The
Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government and DMK
leader Udhayanidhi Stalin for his remarks calling for the eradication of
'Sanatan Dharma'.
A
bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi also issued notice to MP A
Raja, MP Thol Thirumavalavan, MP Thiru Su Venkatesan, Tamil Nadu DGP, Greater
Chennai Police Commissioner, Union Home Ministry, Minister for Hindu Religious
& Charitable Endowment Department PK Sekar Babu, Chairman of Tamil Nadu
State Minorities Commission Peter Alphonse and others.
The
apex court which was initially reluctant to entertain the plea and asked the
petitioner to approach the High Court, agreed to hear the case.
The
bench asked about the context of the remarks, the advocate appearing for
Chennai-based lawyer B Jagannath who filed the plea, said, "They have
called for eradication of a faith, in an institution."
The
Counsel argued that if such a comment was made by an individual it would be
understood, but the State unleashing its machinery.
He
told the bench that Circulars have been given asking students to speak against
it.
A
constitutional functionary speaking like this is impermissible. Second,
students should not be forced to speak out against so and so Dharma," the
counsel said.
The
plea filed through advocate Balaji Gopalan sought intervention to not allow
Udhayanidhi Stalin and others to make further remarks on 'Sanatana Dharma'.
It
also sought to declare the participation of Tamil Nadu Ministers in the meeting
-- Sanatana Dharma Eradication conference -- held on September 2, as
unconstitutional.
The
petition further sought direction from the respondents -- Stalin, Peter
Alphonse, A Raja Thol Thirumavalavan and their followers -- not to make any
further remarks against Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism.
The
petitioner urged the DGP to submit a report as to how the conference was given
police permission and why no action was taken against the perpetrators and the
organisation responsible for the event.
The
plea sought directions from the Home Secretary and the CBI Director to
immediately direct an investigation and enquiry into the background of holding
such events, including the sources pertaining to who is responsible for the
contribution of the amount to such organisations.
It
also sought directions from the Tamil Nadu government's Higher Education
Department, asking them not to hold any events on 'Sanatana Dharma' in
secondary schools.
The
remarks of DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin triggered a massive political
controversy across the country.