The Supreme Court on Monday deferred to 2026 the hearing on a plea filed by Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin seeking to club and transfer multiple FIRs and complaints lodged against him over his 2023 remark calling for the “eradication of Sanatan Dharma.”
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing the petition. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Stalin, argued that several FIRs and complaints had been filed in different states over the same remark. Citing precedents in cases involving journalist Arnab Goswami, Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, and BJP leader Nupur Sharma, he urged the court to consolidate the cases at one place.
Justice Nath, however, observed, “This court has done many things in the past. It does not mean that we should also do the same thing.” When Rohatgi requested that the matter be posted for 2026, the bench agreed.
On March 6, the top court had directed that no fresh FIR be registered against Stalin without its prior approval in relation to the remarks. It had also extended its interim order exempting him from personal appearances before courts where the existing FIRs were pending. The court had observed that multiple complaints could not be entertained over a single issue.
Stalin’s counsel informed the bench that FIRs had been filed in Patna, Jammu, Bengaluru, and Maharashtra, apart from Tamil Nadu, where the alleged incident took place. He urged that the cases be transferred to Tamil Nadu to avoid multiplicity of proceedings.
At a conference in September 2023, Stalin sparked nationwide controversy by stating that Sanatan Dharma was against social justice and equality and should be eradicated. He likened it to “coronavirus, malaria, and dengue,” asserting that it must be “destroyed.” The remarks triggered political uproar and led to multiple legal complaints across states.
The Supreme Court will now take up Stalin’s plea in 2026 for further consideration.
