Telangana Cabinet Clears Key Bills on Hate Speech, Gig Workers’ Welfare, and Social Justice

Hyderabad, March 2026 : In a significant push towards social reform and governance, the Telangana Cabinet led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday approved a series of key legislations, including bills aimed at curbing hate speech, ensuring welfare of gig workers, and addressing caste-based discrimination in educational institutions.

At a Cabinet meeting held in Hyderabad, the government cleared the Hate Speech and Hate Crime (Prevention) Bill, which seeks to tackle rising concerns over divisive rhetoric and offences targeting vulnerable communities. The proposed legislation is expected to be introduced in the ongoing budget session of the state legislature. The Chief Minister has earlier emphasized that a dedicated legal framework is essential to promote social harmony and provide stronger safeguards against hate-driven offences.

Alongside this, the Cabinet also approved the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security, and Welfare) Bill, marking a major step towards recognizing and supporting gig and platform-based workers. With nearly 4.2 lakh workers engaged in app-based and freelance services across the state, the bill aims to formalize their employment conditions. It proposes mandatory registration of workers, the establishment of a Welfare Board, and the creation of a dedicated Welfare Fund to provide social security benefits.

In another important decision, the Cabinet gave its nod to the Telangana Advocates Protection Bill, which is designed to curb incidents of attacks on lawyers and ensure their safety while performing professional duties.

The Cabinet also discussed infrastructure and financial matters, particularly the future of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project. It approved measures to expedite the process of taking over the existing 69-kilometre metro network from Larsen & Toubro. A government-appointed expert committee has recommended that the state take over the Phase 1 project by paying approximately ₹15,000 crore, which includes outstanding debt. The Cabinet has designated Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited as the nodal agency to handle all financial transactions related to the takeover.

On the issue of caste census, the Cabinet approved the report submitted by an independent expert group headed by former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy. A Cabinet sub-committee will now examine the report in detail and provide recommendations for further action.

The Cabinet also decided to constitute another sub-committee to finalise the modalities for the proposed Rohit Vemula Act, which aims to address caste discrimination in educational institutions. The committee will be headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and will include ministers Damodar Rajanarasimha, Sridhar Babu, Uttam Kumar Reddy, and Ponnam Prabhakar.

The proposed legislation is linked to the legacy of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit research scholar at the University of Hyderabad whose death in 2016 sparked nationwide protests against caste discrimination in higher education institutions. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier urged the state government to enact a law in Vemula’s name to prevent such incidents.

Another notable approval was the ‘Parents’ Support Bill,’ which introduces accountability for individuals neglecting elderly parents. Under this provision, up to 15 percent of salary or ₹10,000 (whichever is lower) may be deducted from the earnings of public representatives, as well as government and private employees, who fail to provide for their parents. The deducted amount will be directly transferred to the parents, ensuring their financial security.

The Cabinet’s decisions reflect the ruling Congress party’s commitments made during the 2023 Assembly elections, particularly regarding social justice, labour welfare, and inclusive governance. The proposed bills, once passed, are expected to have far-reaching implications for social equity, worker protection, and institutional accountability in Telangana.

Overall, the meeting underscored the state government’s intent to address contemporary socio-economic challenges through legislative action, while also advancing infrastructure reforms and welfare-oriented policies.