New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday issued an order preventing any further FIRs from being filed against Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin regarding his 2023 remarks on “eradicating Sanatan Dharma” without its permission. A bench, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, scheduled the next hearing for April 21, stating that the interim order would continue, applying to any new cases as well.
In an earlier order, Stalin was granted exemption from personally appearing before lower courts in connection with proceedings related to his controversial comment. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Maharashtra government, raised concerns, suggesting that if a Chief Minister from another state had made a similar statement about “eradication of Islam,” there would have been a strong reaction. However, the Chief Justice refrained from commenting on this, stating it could impact the trial.
The Supreme Court was hearing a petition from Stalin, who sought to have the multiple FIRs filed against him across several states consolidated and tried together in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka. Stalin’s controversial remarks, made in 2023, comparing ‘Sanatana Dharma’ to diseases like malaria and dengue while advocating for its elimination, led to widespread political backlash and the filing of several criminal complaints.
In March 2024, the Supreme Court had already expressed disapproval of Stalin’s remarks, highlighting his position as a minister and questioning his responsibility in making such statements. Stalin had sought relief to have all the FIRs, which were filed in states like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, and Maharashtra, consolidated for trial in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka.