India’s Supreme Court Thursday directed that no new FIRs be registered against Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M. Udhayanidhi Stalin over his alleged remarks insulting to Sanatan Dharma. The court also continued the interim protection given to Stalin in the ongoing cases, and said no coercive action should be taken against him.
The order was issued on a bench consisting of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, who were hearing petitions challenging the filing of multiple FIRs across the country against Stalin. The ruling by the court affords DMK leader legal relief, being hauled up by the law since it delivered the controversial speech in September 2023.
Stalin made remarks while addressing a conference in Tamil Nadu, saying that Sanatan Dharma stands against social justice and equality and that it should be ‘eliminated’. Further, he compared Sanatan Dharma to diseases such as coronavirus, malaria, and dengue and contended that it should be wiped out so that society can progress.
After his speeches, he was booked for multiple FIRs in multiple states, including Maharashtra, Bihar, Jammu, and Karnataka. But his statements were strongly criticized by many right-wing groups and political leaders as hate speech and an insult to religious sentiments.
The Supreme Court ruling basically means no further legal action against Stalin, and he gets to keep politically active for now without immediate legal peril. However, the cases against which he is already registered will continue to be legally assessed.
Supporters of DMK welcome the decision, while opposition parties keep up their demand for action against him for his remarks.
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