The Supreme Court has provided a significant relief to Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, in the wake of his controversial remarks about Sanatan Dharma.
On March 6, the court stopped the registration of any new FIRs against Stalin and reaffirmed the relief it had provided in the previous hearing.
The court will continue to hear the case on April 21, as a three-judge bench considers the implications of Stalin’s statements.
Controversial Remarks & Legal Proceedings
Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments about Sanatan Dharma-where he likened it to diseases like malaria and dengue-triggered a massive political storm.
As a result, several FIRs were filed across multiple states, escalating the situation. These remarks sparked a growing political dispute, with widespread demands for legal action against Stalin.
In response to these developments, Stalin’s lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, informed the court that authorities had filed a new FIR against Stalin in Bihar.
Subsequently, the court issued a notice to the complainant, prompting further legal proceedings.
The Supreme Court’s ruling thus put a temporary halt on any further legal actions stemming from this new FIR.
Political & Legal Reactions
Maharashtra’s Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, expressed strong disapproval of Stalin’s comments, stating that if a chief minister from another state had made similar remarks, it would have caused nationwide uproar.
Mehta emphasized that the language used was inappropriate and should not be condoned.
The court had previously asked Stalin’s legal team to file a petition under Section 406 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) rather than under Article 32 of the Constitution, prompting Stalin to amend his petition to seek a transfer of FIRs from multiple states to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, had expressed concerns over the misuse of constitutional rights in the case.
In a previous hearing, the bench had remarked that Stalin, as a public figure and minister, should have been aware of the consequences of his words.
Despite the controversy, Stalin’s lawyer argued that the remarks should not constitute criminal offenses and defended Stalin’s right to free speech under the Constitution.
The court will address the matter in its next hearing on April 21, focusing on the constitutional implications of such statements and determining the legal framework for handling these remarks.
Political Fallout & Public Reaction
The remarks made by Udhayanidhi Stalin in 2022 led to severe backlash, especially from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and several Hindu organizations, who condemned the comparison of Sanatan Dharma with diseases.
Multiple states filed several FIRs, demanding action against Stalin, which escalated into a larger political issue.
The case continues to attract attention, as the legal and political repercussions of the remarks are still unfolding.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case in April will play a critical role in determining how Indian law and the broader constitutional framework handle such controversial remarks.
The outcome of this case could set important precedents regarding free speech, religious sensitivities, and the limits of public discourse in India.
With multiple FIRs filed in different states, the Supreme Court’s decision could significantly impact how the law treats controversial political statements in the future.
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