SC bars new FIRs against Udhayanidhi Stalin over remarks on Sanatan Dharma
THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK Advertisement New Delhi, March 6: The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that no new FIR should be…
THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, March 6: The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that no new FIR should be filed against Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M. Udhayanidhi Stalin without its permission, following his controversial remarks in 2023 about “eradicating Sanatan Dharma.”
A bench Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar also extended an interim order exempting Stalin from personal appearance in court regarding existing FIRs.
Stalin’s legal team sought to club the FIRs and transfer them to Tamil Nadu, where the alleged incident occurred, arguing that multiple cases arising from the same incident in different states were unfair.
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Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi cited precedents like the Nupur Sharma case, where the Supreme Court transferred all related FIRs to the location of the first registered complaint.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Maharashtra, argued that Stalin’s remarks, comparing Sanatan Dharma to diseases like malaria and dengue, were highly offensive and would not be tolerated if directed at other religions.
The court focused on whether the FIRs should be transferred to a single location and did not delve into the merits of the case. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 28.
In a conference held in September 2023, Stalin reportedly remarked that Sanatan Dharma was contrary to social justice and equality, advocating for its “eradication” and comparing it to diseases like coronavirus, malaria, and dengue, calling for it to be “destroyed.”
