Sanatan Dharma remark: SC tags plea seeking FIRs against DMK leaders Udhayanidhi Stalin, A Raja and others
The plea was filed over DMK leaders' "eradicate Sanatan Dharma" remark, which the petitioner likened to hate speech. The lawyer appearing for Tamil Nadu argued that the plea was a "public interest litigation in the nature of publicity interest litigation".
The Supreme Court on Wednesday tagged a plea, which sought to register FIRs against DMK leaders Udhayanidhi Stalin and A Raja for their 'Sanatan Dharma' remarks. In addition, the court is also likely to hear a petition seeking contempt action against police chiefs of Tamil Nadu and Delhi for not taking action despite complaints. According to the information, the petition has been filed by Advocate Vineet Jindal.
Earlier on September 22, a bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi issued notices on the petition filed by Chennai-based lawyer B Jagannath who said the apex court has passed several directions, including for registration of FIR, in similar cases. The plea has been filed over DMK leaders' "eradicate Sanatan Dharma" remark, which the petitioner likened to hate speech.
"We will not issue notice but we will tag it," the bench told the counsel appearing for the petitioner. The lawyer appearing for Tamil Nadu argued that the plea was a "public interest litigation in the nature of publicity interest litigation".
How controversy erupted?
The controversy erupted after Udhayanidhi's likened 'Sanatana Dharma' to malaria and dengue and called for its eradication. Adding fuel to the raging debate over DMK leader Udhayanidhi's remarks against Sanatan Dharma, the party's Lok Sabha MP A Raja has likened it to diseases like leprosy and HIV which had social stigma.
Last week, the top court had issued a notice seeking responses from the Tamil Nadu government and its leaders, Udhayanidhi Stalin and A raja, on a plea seeking FIRs against them.
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