Supreme Court Criticizes Tamil Nadu Minister Udayanidhi Stalin for Remarks on Sanatana Dharma

The Supreme Court on Monday voiced its disapproval of comments made by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Tamil Nadu minister Udayanidhi Stalin, regarding the eradication of Sanatana Dharma. The court labeled these comments as an abuse of the right to free speech and reminded Stalin of his responsibilities given his position. During the hearing of Stalin’s petition to consolidate criminal cases filed against him in six states over his remarks, the bench, comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, advised Stalin to be mindful of the consequences of his statements.

Represented by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Stalin argued that the remarks were made in a private setting, not a public one. Singhvi described the multiple state cases as persecution before prosecution, highlighting the national span of legal challenges faced by Stalin, from Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai. He invoked Article 32, seeking Supreme Court intervention for the enforcement of fundamental rights, in light of these circumstances.

The court, however, questioned the recourse to Article 32 following an alleged misuse of fundamental rights to free speech and religious freedom. The bench suggested approaching individual high courts for relief but agreed to consider the request for case consolidation, drawing parallels with similar precedents. The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for March 15, leaving two petitions seeking Stalin’s criminal prosecution for his controversial remarks pending.

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