Read Time: 04 minutes
Citing recent orders passed by the Supreme Court in Shaheen Abdulla vs. Union of India and Ors. on actions to be taken against perpetrators of hate speech, the letter submits that Tamil Nadu government's delay in taking action against Stalin Jr. should invite the court’s contempt
Former judges, government officials and war veterans have written to the Chief Justice of India, requesting him to take suo moto cognizance of the hate speech made by Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on 'Sanatan Dharma'.
CJI Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud has been told that Stalin Jr.'s comments could incite communal disharmony and sectarian violence.
A few days ago, Stalin, a serving Minister in the Tamil Nadu State Government, while addressing a press conference in Chennai stated: “Few things cannot be opposed, they should be abolished. We can’t oppose dengue, mosquitoes, malaria, or corona, we have to eradicate them. In the same way, we have to eradicate the Sanatana (Sanatan Dharma), rather than opposing it”.
CJI has been further told that the Minister deliberately remarked that Sanatana Dharma enslaved women and did not allow them to step out of their homes.
"Not only did he make a hate speech but Udhayanidhi Stalin refused to apologize for his remarks. Rather he justified himself by stating: “I will say this continuously” with reference to his remark that Santana Dharma should be eradicated. He reiterated that he stands by his remarks and offered ambiguities and nuances that did little to address the concerns raised by people...", the letter adds.
It is further submitted that Tamil Nadu State Government actions run in the face of the Supreme Court of India’s judgments in the case of Shaheen Abdulla v. Union of India and Ors. and Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India, wherein State Governments were directed to take sue moto action against any hate speech crime without waiting for any complaint.
"...since the State Government has refused to take action and acted in contempt of the Court’s orders and gravely undermined or rather made a mockery of the rule of law, we urge the Hon’ble Supreme Court to take the suo moto notice of contempt, ensuring accountability for the inaction of the State Government of Tamil Nadu, and take decisive steps to prevent the inducement of hate speech, preserving public order and peace and we request you to take immediate appropriate actions...", letter adds.
Please Login or Register
