The Supreme Court on Monday orally observed that the atmosphere in the country was being sullied by hate speeches and the time had come to stop the trend.

“We have to see who is involved, and who is not. You are correct, that entire atmosphere is getting sullied by these hate speeches and that it needs to be stopped,” Chief Justice U.U. Lalit told a public interest petitioner, Harpreet Mansukhani.

Mansukhani, an NRI from the UAE, responded: “Lordships, no, not ‘stopped’. It’s too late for that. There now needs to be directions to prevent this conspiracy.”

The petition charges the states with inaction against those spreading hate, cites the alleged calls to genocide sounded at conclaves of sadhus in Uttarakhand and Delhi, and accuses BJP leaders of boasting about bloodshed.

The bench, which included Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, however, said: “We do not know the details of the… crimes you are referring to and who are the persons involved…. We cannot entertain an omnibus petition.”

Mansukhani said her petition listed at least 72 instances of hate speeches from the past couple of years.

The CJI said that if she had specific grievances, she should approach the competent (lower) court.

Mansukhani argued that apex court judgments in the Tehseen Poonawala case and others had framed guidelines to tackle hate speeches but they were not being implemented.

She offered to file details through a sworn affidavit, and the court adjourned the matter till November 1.