New Delhi, Feb. 18 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it was open to examining the larger issues of hate speech and the constitutional morality that ought to guide political parties and their leaders, but made it clear that it would not entertain "selective targeting" or allow such concerns to descend into the "humdrum of politics". A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justice BV Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a batch of pleas filed jointly by 12 individuals, including former bureaucrats, academicians and civil society members, seeking guidelines to regulate public speeches by constitutional functionaries in the backdrop of alleged hate remarks by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the atmosphere in the country was becoming "toxic" and urged the court to step in. "My Lords must do something about it," said Sibal, arguing that neither the Election Commission nor existing mechanisms adequately addressed hate speech outside the Model Code of Conduct period, particularly on social media. But the bench repeatedly expressed reservations about the manner in which the petition had been framed and made repeated reference to just one individual. "Our suggestion is this petition should be withdrawn and a simple petition should be filed about how political parties are brazenly violating constitutional norms," said CJI Kant, as the judge objected to what he described as selective targeting. "With selectively chosen people and allegations, and other people ignored, this is not acceptable. They should be fair," he added. The CJI said the court was "inclined to entertain such a petition" provided it was objective and not directed against particular individuals. On Monday, the CJI-led bench had declined to entertain three separate petitions seeking action against Sarma over remarks allegedly targeting Muslims, asking the petitioners to approach the high court instead. On Tuesday, however, the discussion broadened into a larger conversation on hate speech, political accountability and constitutional morality. CJI Kant observed that public servants are already bound by service rules, including the All India Services Rules, and are expected to adhere to standards of conduct. "Public servants have to follow. But there are rules. Don't go for casually drafted petitions," he said, adding that one must follow the "boundary of constitutional morality". Justice Nagarathna questioned whether judicially crafted guidelines would necessarily be followed. Justice Bagchi underscored that the court had already laid down principles in earlier judgments addressing hate speech....