Respect perspectives from eminent persons, jurists but not information circulated on WhatsApp University: Supreme Court

A five-judge Constitution bench, by a 4:1 majority verdict in September 2018, lifted a ban that prevented women entering the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it respected the perspectives of eminent persons and jurists but advised circumspection against information circulating through "WhatsApp University", which cannot be treated as credible or accepted.

A nine-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made the observations while hearing petitions related to discrimination against women at religious places, including the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, and on the ambit and scope of religious freedom practiced by multiple faiths. 

The bench also comprised Justices B V Nagarathna, M M Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Augustine George Masih, Prasanna B Varale, R Mahadevan, and Joymalya Bagchi.

Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing the head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, referred to an article written by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. The bench was informed that the Congress leader's article discussed judicial restraint in matters of religious relief.

On this, CJI Kant said, "We respect all eminent persons, jurists, etc., but personal opinion is personal opinion." 

Kaul said if knowledge and wisdom come from any source, any country, any university, it should be welcomed.

"We are far too rich as a civilisation not to accept all forms of knowledge and information," Kaul said. 

In a lighter vein, Justice Nagarathna said, "But not from WhatsApp University." Kaul said he was not getting into that.

Kaul said he is not into "which university is good or bad", which is really inconsequential to this debate. He emphasised that the point is simply that wherever knowledge and information come from, they must be accepted.