Dr. Muralidhar Challenges Solicitor General's 'Naxalite' Remark in Vande Mataram Case
· India · Live Law, The Hindu
Justice S. Muralidhar expressed strong objection to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's use of the term 'Naxalite' during a Supreme Court hearing regarding the national song 'Vande Mataram'. The proceedings focused on a petition seeking to make the song mandatory in schools and offices across the country. During the exchange, the Solicitor General referred to individuals opposing the song on religious grounds as 'Naxalites', a characterization that prompted an immediate rebuke from the bench. The Supreme Court clarified that no penal action can be taken against citizens who choose to object to the song based on their religious beliefs. The court's stance underscores the constitutional protection of personal conscience in the context of national symbols.
Why it matters
The exchange highlights the legal boundaries between nationalistic mandates and individual religious freedoms in India, setting a clear precedent that dissent based on faith does not constitute a criminal offense.
Read the original report — Live Law
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