SC stops new FIRs against Tamil Nadu deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin in Sanatana Dharma remarks case

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that no new first information reports be registered against Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for his remarks calling for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma, Live Law reported.

A two-judge bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar issued the interim order on a plea by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader to consolidate all criminal cases filed against him in the matter.

Sanatana Dharma is a term some people use as a synonym for Hinduism. At a press conference in Chennai on September 2, Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, said that Sanatana Dharma was akin to dengue and malaria and should hence be annihilated.

The Supreme Court clarified that its previous directives allowing the minister to be exempted from arrest and from appearing physically in lower courts would stand.

The court had previously criticised Udhayanidhi Stalin, saying that he had abused his right to freedom of speech and expression.

The top court observed verbally that the minister had abused his rights under Article 19(1)(a), or the right to freedom of speech and expression, and under Article 25 (the right to freely practice, profess and propagate religion) of the Constitution.

“Now you are exercising your right under Article 32 [right to seek constitutional remedy from...

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