Supreme Court bars registration of more FIRs against Udhayanidhi
What's the story
The Supreme Court of India has passed an interim order barring the filing of new first information reports (FIRs) against Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin without its permission.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, was hearing Stalin's plea to club criminal cases registered against him across multiple states over his controversial "eradicate Sanatana Dharma" remarks.
The bench will maintain this interim order until a hearing in April 2025.
Controversy details
Stalin's controversial remarks spark nationwide FIRs
Stalin, a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader, made the controversial remarks in September 2023 at a Chennai conference.
He likened Sanatana Dharma to diseases such as dengue and malaria, implying it should be eliminated.
His remarks resulted in several FIRs being lodged in different states, including Maharashtra, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, and Karnataka.
Court proceedings
Stalin seeks consolidation of FIRs, defends remarks
Reacting to the nationwide FIRs, Stalin moved the Supreme Court seeking clubbing of these cases.
He defended his remarks saying they were meant to address caste-based discrimination.
In court on Thursday, Senior Advocate AM Singhvi, who appeared for Stalin, argued that other public figures had faced lighter consequences for similar or worse statements.
"In Arnab Goswami, Nupur Sharma etc., FIRs were transferred in the first place. Nupur Sharma had worst utterances," Singhvi said.
SG
Stalin's comments were inappropriate: SG
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, representing the Maharashtra government (one of the states where Stalin has been booked), stated that Stalin's comments were inappropriate.
"It was a Sanatana Dharma eradication conference. He said something is not to be dealt with but eradicated like Corona....What would happen if CM of...other state said that any other religion has to be eradicated, then? Merely because the community which was sought to be eradicated does not react violently, this cannot be said," Mehta said.
Legal developments
Court extends interim protection for Stalin
The SC bench, however, refused to comment, saying it will impact the trial.
The Supreme Court also extended the operation of an interim order that granted Stalin protection from coercive actions.
"List in April. Interim order to continue and shall apply to the new cases added as well. We direct no further FIR to be registered on the same cause," the bench said.