The Supreme Court on Friday postponed the hearing of Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s plea, which seeks to consolidate multiple FIRs filed against him for his controversial remarks on “eradicating Sanatan Dharma.” The hearing has been rescheduled for February 2025, with the bench consisting of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, who serves as the minister of youth welfare and sports and is also a prominent film actor, found himself embroiled in legal trouble after a speech at a conference in September 2023. During his address, Stalin allegedly described Sanatana Dharma as being antithetical to social justice and equality, likening it to diseases such as “coronavirus, malaria, and dengue,” and stated that it should be “destroyed.” These comments led to the filing of multiple FIRs across various states, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and Karnataka.
In court, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Stalin, highlighted that several respondents (complainants) had yet to submit their responses to the plea. The Supreme Court, while deferring the hearing, extended an interim order that exempts Stalin from appearing physically before the trial courts until further directives are issued.
Earlier in March, the Supreme Court had expressed its disapproval of Stalin’s actions, questioning his appeal to club the FIRs subsequent to his provocative remarks about Sanatana Dharma. The court critiqued Stalin for potentially abusing his right to freedom of speech and expression.
