In a noteworthy legal development, the Supreme Court of India, presided over by Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia, has rendered its decision to dismiss a plea advocating for the establishment of a single “constitutional religion” within the nation. The petitioner, who appeared in person, was questioned by the bench regarding the origin of such a novel proposition.
The bench, notably perplexed by the petitioner’s assertion, posed a crucial question, “You say there should be one constitutional religion. Can you prevent people from following their own religions? What is this?”
The petitioner, identified as a social activist, clarified that he had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) under Article 32 of the Constitution, representing the people of India in their pursuit of a unified constitutional faith.
The bench, in a further exploration of the petition’s intricacies, sought to ascertain the foundation upon which this request was made. Regrettably, the petition did not specify the particular constitutional order it aimed to challenge, although it purported to seek the quashing of a constitutional order from 1950.
In response to these shortcomings, the Supreme Court promptly dismissed the petition, bringing this unique legal chapter to a close.
Article 32 of the Constitution bestows upon Indian citizens the right to approach the Supreme Court should they believe their fundamental rights have been transgressed.
This verdict reaffirms the pluralistic nature of India’s religious fabric and underscores the principle of religious freedom enshrined in the country’s Constitution.
By PTI
