'Sanatan Dharma' remark: Relief for Udhayanidhi as SC refuses to entertain writ petitions seeking action

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a batch of petitions seeking criminal action against Tamil Nadu's Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for his controversial “eradicate Sanatan Dharma" remarks in September, 2023.

A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Prasanna B Varale refused to consider the plea filed by advocates B Jagannath, and Vineet Jindal and NGO Sanatan Suraksha Parishad.

The apex court is already seized of the plea filed by Stalin seeking a direction for clubbing of FIRs, lodged at various places, for his remarks.

Jagannath, one of the petitioners, sought direction to restrain Stalin and others from making further remarks about 'Sanatana Dharma'. Jindal also sought strict action against DMK MP A Raja along with Udhayanidhi. Likewise, Sanatan Suraksha Parishad sought guidelines to prevent communal remarks by elected representatives.

Udhayanidhi Stalin had in September 2023, in one of his speeches compared 'Sanatana Dharma' to diseases like 'malaria' and 'dengue'. He also advocated for its elimination on grounds that it was rooted in the caste system and historical discrimination.