New Delhi, April 22 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Uttar Pradesh Police for going back on its assurance to include hate speech provisions in relation to a 2021 incident where a Delhi man claimed to have been tortured, abused and humiliated over his Muslim identity.

After examining a petition filed by Kazeem Ahmad Sherwani, who approached the top court in 2021 after the UP Police refused to register his complaint,the UP government had informed the top courtthat the relevant hate crime provision under section 295A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) had been added. This provision punishes malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings and carries a maximum sentence of three years.

Taking noting of this,the bench of justic...