NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an unusual plea for declaring that citizens of the country should follow a religious and spiritual leader, Sri Sri Thakurji Anukul Chandra as 'Paramaatma' with Rs one lakh cost.
In India, everyone has the full right to follow their religion. India is a secular country. You cant say everyone has to follow only one religion, a bench of Justices M R Shah and C T Ravikumar told petitioner, Upendra Nath Dalai.
If you want you can consider him as Paramatma. Why enforce it on others," the bench further told the petitioner, while terming his plea as "publicity interest litigation".
Dismissing the PIL, the bench told the petitioner, Aap mano ki ek hi Guruji hain. Aise kabhi hota hain bhaiya? Sabko pura adhikar hain ye country mein jisko jo dharam manana hain, maane (You are saying that everyone should accept your Guruji. How can that be? In India everyone has a right to follow their religion)."
The petitioner has made BJP, RSS, VHP, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, National Christian Council, Sri Palanpuri Sthanakvasi Jain Association, Buddhist Society of India, Puri Jagannath Mandir Management Committee, All India Iskon committee, Ramakrishna Math, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, parties in the case.
In its order, the court said the petition is "thoroughly misconceived" which deserves to be dismissed with exemplary costs of Rs 1 lakh to be deposited with this court's Registry within four weeks from today.
"Now people will think at least four times before filing such PILs," the bench said, before ending the hearing.
