Madras HC Refuses Pleas Against Udayanidhi Stalin Continuing In Public Office After 'Sanatan' Remarks

Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed pleas seeking quo warranto writs against Udhayanidhi Stalin, Sekar Babu and A Raja in public office in light of the light of Sanatana Dharma row.

The controversy started when DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin remarked that Sanatan Dharma opposes equality and social justice, advocating for its elimination.

Madras High Court on Wednesday refused pleas seeking quo warranto writs against Udhayanidhi Stalin, Sekar Babu and A Raja continuing in public office in light of the light of Sanatana Dharma row. Quo Warranto is a writ or legal action requiring a person to show by what warrant an office or franchise is held, claimed, or exercised.

Justice Anita Sumanth however said that by equating Sanatan Dharma to HIV, malaria, and dengue, Udhayanidhi Stalin acted against constitutional principles and spread misinformation, the Bar and Bench reported.

The controversy started when DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin remarked that Sanatan Dharma opposes equality and social justice, advocating for its elimination. He likened it to diseases like coronavirus, malaria, and dengue, stressing on eradication rather than mere criticism.

In his response following the widely-discussed 'Sanatan Row,' Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's son, pledged to confront all legal challenges against him. He urged DMK supporters to refrain from wasting time on activities such as filing lawsuits against religious leaders or burning effigies. Furthermore, he directed questions at Union Minister Amit Shah, Prime Minister Modi, Edappadi K Palaniswami, and the Ayodhya Seer for sanctioning bounties on his life.

In September 2023, A Raja, a Rajya Sabha MP and former Cabinet Minister allegedly supplemented the derogatory remarks made against Sanatan Dharma.

Raja reportedly said that Udhayanidhi Stalin was soft in comparing and claiming that it should be eradicated like malaria and dengue. As these diseases don't have a social stigma. "To be honest, leprosy was seen as disgusting and so was HIV. So, we need to see this as a disease-ridden with social plights like HIV and leprosy." 

Stalin defended his remarks saying that they were not intended to oppose Hinduism, instead, he was simply urging to bring an end to caste-based discriminatory practices.