Synopsis
On March 6, the Supreme Court ruled that no new criminal cases against Udhayanidhi Stalin regarding his remarks on Sanatan Dharma can be filed without its consent, following his petition to consolidate multiple FIRs across the nation.Key Takeaways
- Supreme Court stops new cases against Udhayanidhi Stalin.
- Controversial remarks on Sanatan Dharma led to multiple FIRs.
- Stalin seeks consolidation of complaints.
- Interim order allows exemption from lower courts.
- Freedom of speech and religion invoked in defense.
New Delhi, March 6 (NationPress) The Supreme Court on Thursday mandated that no new criminal cases be filed against Tamil Nadu's Deputy Chief Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin regarding his controversial statements on ‘Sanatan Dharma’ without prior permission from the court.
This directive was issued by a Bench composed of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, as they addressed Stalin Jr’s petition requesting the consolidation of multiple FIRs lodged against him nationally.
“List in April. The interim order (granting exemption from appearing before lower courts) is to persist and shall extend to any new cases that arise as well. We instruct that no additional FIRs be recorded on the same grounds,” declared the CJI Khanna-led Bench.
The apex court permitted the amendment application for adding a complainant since a new FIR had been filed against the DMK leader in Bihar.
While speaking at a conference in Chennai in September 2023, the then minister for sports and youth affairs remarked, “Sanatan Dharma is contrary to social justice and equality and should be ‘eradicated’ like malaria and dengue.”
Following the filing of several criminal complaints against Udhayanidhi Stalin related to his contentious statement, he submitted a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking to consolidate various FIRs and complaints against him.
Invoking Articles 19(1)(a)25 (ensuring freedom of conscience and the free profession, practice, and propagation of religion) of the Constitution, Udhayanidhi Stalin requested the amalgamation of multiple FIRs and private complaints for transfer to a single state.
In May last year, the Supreme Court issued a notice to various state governments and complainants. Subsequently, in August 2024, it granted Stalin Jr an exemption from appearing before lower courts in all criminal matters.
In a separate matter, the highest court stated that it would not consider a plea for contempt action against Udhayanidhi Stalin over his inflammatory statements, asserting that it would be “impossible” to adjudicate individual cases nationwide. “If we start entertaining contempt, we will be inundated with it. We will not delve into individual cases,” it remarked.
