Guwahati, April 22 -- The Assam government on Wednesday informed the Gauhati High Court that it will file its response in a batch of public interest litigations (PIL) alleging "hate speech" by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury posted the matter for further hearing on May 28, recording the state's submission that its affidavit would be filed before the next date of hearing and shared in advance with the petitioners' counsel.

The petitions were first heard on February 26, when the Bench noted a "fissiparous tendency" in the matter and issued notices to the Chief Minister, the Centre, the state government and the Director General of Police.

The case ...