Madras High Court Dismisses Plea Against Udhayanidhi Stalin On His Sanatana Dharma Remark (Photo on X Udhay @Udhaystalin)

Giving relief to the Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Madras High Court today dismissed a plea against the DMK leader regarding his remark on the Sanatana Dharma. The petition had questioned the continuation of Mr Udhayanidhi Stalin as a legislator after making the alleged derogatory comment on Sanatana Dharma. The Court however observed that making unverified claims on Sanatana Dharma amounts to speaking misinformation.

The petition had also sought the removal of the minister PK Sekar Babu and DMK MP A Raja from the state assembly but the Court did not issue any quo warranto against the legislators. Those holding constitutional positions can propound only one principle. And that is the principle of constitutionalism. Making unverified claims on Sanatana Dharma tantamount to spreading misinformation,” the bench stated while dismissing the petition.

Notably, the High Court’s decision comes just a few days after the Supreme Court slammed the Tamil Nadu chief minister”s son for making the alleged “eradication” remark against Sanatana Dharma. The Supreme Court rebuked the DMK leader for “abusing” his right under the freedom of speech of the constitution.

The supreme court while hearing the DMK leader’s plea seeking to club the FRIs registered against him at several states over his remark stated, “You abuse your right under Article 19(1)(a) (of the Constitution). You abuse your right under Article 25. Now you are exercising your right under Article 32 (to file a plea in the Supreme Court)? Do you not know the consequences of what you said? You are not a layman. You are a minister. You should know the consequences.” The top Court then adjourned the case for March 15.

Mr Udhayanidhi Stalin had last year made a controversial remark stating that Sanatana Dharma has to be eradicated, noting that it is discriminatory and against social justice. The Tamil Nadu minister even after facing social media backlash stood by his remark saying that he was not calling for the genocide of the Hindus but was noting the social inequality and discrimination in the caste system.

The BJP had accused Mr Udhayanidhi Stalin of calling for the genocide of the Hindu people after the DMK leader remarked on Sanatana Dharma.