Overview A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court on December 28, 2025 , seeking judicial intervention to address the "continuing constitutional failure" to prevent and respond to racial discrimination and violence against citizens from northeastern states and other frontier regions. The PIL underscores the need for a more comprehensive legal and institutional framework to protect vulnerable communities from hate crimes and discrimination. Key Developments Background: The PIL was filed in the backdrop of the brutal killing of Anjel Chakma , a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura , who succumbed on December 26, 2025 , to grievous injuries sustained in a racially motivated attack in the Selaqui area of Dehradun . Petitioner: Anoop Prakash Awasthi , a Delhi-based lawyer, has made the Centre and all the states and Union territories as parties to the PIL. Constitutional Basis: The plea seeks issuance of a writ under Article 32 of the Constitution for the violation of fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19(1)(a) & (g), and 21 . Demands: The plea seeks the formulation of comprehensive guidelines, recognizing 'racial slur' as a separate category of hate crimes and determining punishment for the same. It also seeks the creation of a nodal agency or permanent body at the central and state levels to address racial crimes. Details of the Incident Anjel Chakma , from Unakoti district's Machmara , went to Dehradun after completing his graduation in Holy Cross School, Agartala , to pursue an MBA. He was stabbed to death in the presence of his younger brother, Michael . The family members of Chakma want capital punishment or at least life imprisonment for all the accused involved in the incident. The plea recounts Chakma's last recorded assertion, "We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?" before the confrontation escalated into brutal violence. The attackers allegedly assaulted and stabbed both brothers, and Chakma sustained severe injuries to his neck and spine, remaining unconscious throughout his treatment. His death triggered widespread anguish, protests, and demands for justice across the country. Key Demands of the PIL Comprehensive Guidelines: Formulation of comprehensive guidelines, recognizing 'racial slur' as a separate category of hate crimes and determining punishment for the same. Nodal Agencies: Creation of a "nodal agency or a permanent body or commission or directorate" at the central level as well as at the level of each state where such racial crimes can be reported and redressed. Special Police Units: Creation of a dedicated special police unit in each district/metropolitan area to address racial crimes. Educational Initiatives: Organisation of workshops and debates at educational institutes on the issue of prevailing racial discrimination and ways to redress the same. Analysis of the Issue The petition highlights that despite the unmistakable hate-based and racial motivation behind the crime, India's criminal justice system lacks any mechanism to recognize or record racial bias at the initial stage of investigation. As a result, such offences are treated as ordinary crimes, erasing motive, diluting constitutional gravity, and perpetuating a pattern of impunity. The plea emphasizes that the killing of Chakma is not an isolated incident but part of a long-standing pattern of racial abuse and violence against citizens from the northeastern states. The petition recalls earlier cases, including the death of Nido Taniam in 2014 and numerous assaults on students and workers in metropolitan cities, incidents that have been formally acknowledged by the Centre in parliamentary replies but, according to the petitioner, remain unaddressed through any dedicated legislative or institutional framework. UPSC Relevance This issue is relevant to GS2: Polity and Governance , particularly concerning fundamental rights, the role of the judiciary, and government policies aimed at protecting vulnerable communities. It also touches upon GS1: Social Issues , specifically related to social justice and discrimination. Understanding the constitutional provisions and the legal framework surrounding hate crimes is crucial for Mains examination.