The Supreme Court of India has turned down a public interest litigation (PIL) petition that asked for declaring the founder of Satsang, Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra as a “parmatma’.
The petition was filed by one Upendra Nath Dalai.
A bench comprising of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar said that a country like India which is woven in fabric of secularism such prayers cannot be made by way of PILs.
During the Curt room discussions the Senior Judge MR Shah asked if you want you can consider him as Paramaatma,but how can you force it on others?
The Senior judge also said the bench is not set up to listen to your lecture. PIL has a meaning. Now people will think at least 4 times before filing such PILs.
It is very important to note that the arguments and court observations were in Hindi and translated later.
After the hearing was over, the order read that India is a secular country and petitioner cannot be permitted to pray that the citizens of India may accept Sri Sri Thakur Anukul Chandra as Paramaatma (supreme spirit).
The Court said that this is not a genuine PIL at all and the same is publicity interest litigation.
The bench said that “Hum yeh lecture nahi sunne aaye hain. Hum secular desh hain. PIL ka koi matlab hota hain. (Not here to listen to a lecture, we are a secular country. PIL has a meaning),”
The Court dismisses the petition on the ground of India being a Secular Nation and immediately imposed costs of ₹1 lakh on the petitioner for filing the “misconceived” plea.