The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to constitute a committee to look into cases of ‘hate speech’.

The bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti asked Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, to seek instructions and inform it about the committee by August 18.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by one Shaheen Abdullah seeking action against those calling for a ‘social and economic boycott’ of Muslims following the recent violence against Hindus by Muslims in Haryana’s Nuh.

“There has to be some harmony and comity between the communities. I do not know if this has been exaggerated, but anyhow this is not acceptable. This is my thought, we can ask the DGP to constitute a committee of three to four officers nominated by him and peruse all materials, and SHO etc., can forward all material to the committee and take a call if the material is authentic and issue directions to the concerned officer. At SHO level and police level, the police needs to be sensitized,” justice Khanna said.

“This problem has to be solved. No one can accept it,” the apex court remarked.