Telangana Assembly Introduces Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Bill 2026 with Up to 10 Years Jail
Hyderabad, 30th March 2026: The Telangana government on Sunday introduced two key bills in the state assembly aimed at addressing hate crimes and ensuring protection for advocates.
The first proposal, the Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026, seeks to introduce strict penalties for individuals found guilty of spreading hate speech or committing hate-related offences. Under the proposed law, offenders could face imprisonment ranging from one to seven years along with a fine of up to Rs 50,000. In cases of repeat offences, the punishment may extend to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.
The bill was introduced in the assembly by IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu on behalf of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. Once approved by both houses of the legislature, the bill will be sent to the governor and may subsequently be reserved for the President’s assent under Article 254(2) of the Constitution.
According to the statement of objectives accompanying the bill, the government has observed a noticeable rise in incidents of hate speech and hate-driven crimes, particularly through digital platforms and social media. Authorities believe such content can spread rapidly online and pose a threat to public order and communal harmony, prompting the need for dedicated legislation to regulate and prevent such acts.
The proposed law also empowers a designated officer, appointed by the state government, to instruct service providers, intermediaries or other entities to remove or block content deemed to be hate speech, including material circulating through electronic media platforms.
The second proposal, the Telangana Advocates Protection Bill, 2026, focuses on safeguarding lawyers from violence, intimidation and damage to property while performing their professional duties.
The bill proposes imprisonment ranging from six months to three years and fines of up to Rs 50,000 for those found guilty of attacking or threatening advocates. For repeat offences, the punishment may extend to seven years in prison.
Under the proposed legislation, any case registered under the Act will be investigated by a police officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police or Assistant Commissioner of Police. The investigation must be completed within 60 days from the date of registration of the FIR, unless an extension is granted by the concerned Commissioner of Police or Superintendent of Police with written justification.
All cases under the Act would be tried before the Chief Judicial Magistrate.
The bill also includes provisions to address false or malicious cases filed against advocates. Individuals found guilty of initiating such actions could face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to Rs 25,000, along with compensation as decided by the court. At the same time, the law also provides penalties for advocates found to have misused the provisions of the Act, which may include similar punishment and compensation as determined by the court.
