Sanatana Dharma Row: Madras High Court Declines Quo Warranto Against Udhayanidhi Stalin, PK Sekarbabu And A Raja

In a latest development, the Madras High Court has declined to issue a quo warranto against Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P K Sekarbabu, and Nilgiris Member of Parliament A Raja concerning the Sanatana Dharma controversy.

As reported by The Hindu, Justice Anita Sumanth deemed the relief sought by three distinct writ petitioners premature, citing pending First Information Reports (FIRs) without any convictions.

She asserted that quo warranto writs cannot be issued in the absence of convictions.

However, the judge criticised the statements against Sanatana Dharma as divisive and perverse.

She emphasised that criticisms by sitting ministers should be based on factual accuracy and constructive dialogue, aligning with constitutional morality.

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Despite arguments that Minister Sekarbabu only attended the event, Justice Sumanth remarked that participation itself endorsed the conference's theme.

Moreover, she condemned equating Sanatana Dharma with diseases like HIV, AIDS, dengue, and malaria, deeming such remarks contrary to constitutional principles.

The petitioners, Hindu Munnani office-bearers had filed the writs individually, challenging elected legislators' actions against Sanatana Dharma.

The petitioners objected to Udhayanidhi Stalin's call for annihilation of Sanatana Dharma at a conference and Sekarbabu's attendance at the event.

They also claimed that Raja endorsed Stalin's views at another meeting.

The ministers and the MP, on the other hand, questioned the maintainability of the writ petitions.

The Judge, however, insisted on hearing the matter both on the question of maintainability as well as on merits. 

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