Assam Government to File Reply in Gauhati High Court on Hate Speech PILs by May 28

Guwahati: The Assam government will file its reply in the Gauhati High Court till the next hearing on the PILs related to'hate speech'against CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. The Gauhati High Court has scheduled the next hearing for May 28. The court recorded the state's assurance that the reply affidavit will definitely be filed by the next date, a copy of which will be given to the petitioners'counsel well in advance. The first hearing was held on February 26. These PILs were first heard on February 26. The court had also issued notices to Himanta Biswa Sarma, the state government, the central government, and the Director General of Police at that time. The proceedings are taking place in the backdrop of the recent assembly elections in which polling was held on April 9 and counting of votes is to be held on May 4. One of these petitions was filed by Sahitya Akademi awardee Hiren Gohain, former DGP Harekrishna Deka, and senior journalist Paresh Malakar of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).