Karnataka governor clears 17 new bills; no decision yet on controversial hate speech law

The Bill proposes to “curb and prevent dissemination, publication or promotion of hate speech and crimes, which cause disharmony, hatred in the society, against the person or group of persons, organizations and provide punishment to such crimes”.

It designates hate speech as a cognisable and non-bailable offence with punishments ranging from one year for a first-time offence and two to seven years for repeat offences. The Congress government in Karnataka has claimed that the Bill is necessary to regulate the rise in hate speeches on social media, and since existing laws do not mandate strong punishment.

The Bill had been passed in the Karnataka Assembly amid a BJP protest and was passed in the Council after considerable debate, with BJP members opposing it.

The Karnataka governor has yet to decide on another new law, the Karnataka Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2025, sent on December 30. The Bill was passed unanimously in both Houses of the legislature.

The legislation is intended to prevent social boycott, discrimination and social disabilities at various levels—especially seen in cases of inter-caste marriages. The Bill has been compared to the Maharashtra Protection of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2016.

A punishment of imprisonment up to three years with a fine of ₹1 lakh has been proposed under the law, where denial of opportunities, access to public services, refusal to do business, obstruction to religious, social events, and marriages, and expulsion of members of a community are considered as crimes under the purview of a social boycott.

The Drugs and Cosmetics (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025, has been reserved for consideration by the President.

What the governor okayed

Among the 17 bills enacted by the Karnataka government after receiving the governor’s assent are:

* Karnataka Land Revenue (second amendments) Act, 2025, to modernise the land ownership for Jamma Banne lands in Kodagu

* Chandraguthi Shree Renukamba Kshetra Development Authority Act, 2025, to develop and maintain the Chandraguthi Shree Renukamba temple in Shivamogga

* Sri Malai Mahadeswaraswamy Kshethra Development Authority (Amendment) Act, 2025, for management of the Sri Malai Mahadeshwara temple in the Chamarajanagar district

* Other laws enacted are amendments to the Karnataka State Universities Act, the Karnataka State Commission for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Act, the Karnataka State Road Safety Authority Act, Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority Act, the Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) Act, the Malnad Area Development Board Act, the Bayaluseeme Development Board Act, the Karnataka Rent Act, the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, the Karnataka Labour Welfare Fund Act, the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Heritage Area Development Authority Act, the Bombay Public Trust Act, and the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act.