CINEHIND

Breaking News

When playing Sri Lanka Women, Harmanpreet Kaur and his squad lead India Women to a record-breaking ODI score.

Madras High Court Declines 'Quo Warranto' Against DMK Leaders Amidst Controversy Over Remarks on 'Sanatana Dharma

Kalyani Jha
06 Mar, 2024

**'**

In a courtroom drama that unfolded on Wednesday, March 6, the Madras High Court took center stage as it refrained from issuing a 'quo warranto' against Tamil Nadu Sports Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, Minister PK Sekar Babu, and DMK MP A Raja over their contentious remarks on 'Sanatana Dharma'. The petition, filed by T Manohar, an office-bearer of the Hindu Munnani, and two others, sought to question the authority of these DMK leaders holding official posts after allegedly participating in an "anti-Sanatana Dharma meeting" and delivering speeches against the traditional system of religious practices.

Presiding over the case, Justice Anita Sumanth delivered a scathing rebuke, emphasizing the need for greater responsibility from high-ranking political figures. She admonished the DMK leaders, urging them to verify historical events before making inflammatory statements. Notably, Justice Sumanth denounced Udhayanidhi Stalin's comparison of 'Sanatana Dharma' to diseases, highlighting the constitutional violation and dissemination of misinformation inherent in such rhetoric.

The Madras High Court's critique was particularly directed at Minister PK Sekar Babu for his participation in a meeting advocating for the eradication of 'Sanatana Dharma'. Despite acknowledging the maintainability of the writs, Justice Sumanth dismissed the petitions, citing the absence of actions that would disqualify the ministers from their official posts.

This legal saga stems from Udhayanidhi Stalin's controversial remarks made in September 2023, wherein he equated 'Sanatana Dharma' to diseases like 'malaria' and 'dengue', advocating for its elimination due to its purported association with caste-based discrimination. The ensuing political firestorm resulted in a flurry of criminal complaints filed against him, underscoring the polarizing nature of his statements.

Adding fuel to the controversy, the Supreme Court weighed in on Monday, questioning Udhayanidhi Stalin's remarks and reminding him of his status as a government minister, thus intensifying the spotlight on the ongoing legal battle and reigniting debates over the boundaries of free speech and religious sensitivity in the political sphere.