The Delhi High Court declined to entertain a PIL
that sought directions to the central government and other respondents to
constitute a religious body on Wednesday, like a "Sanatan Dharm Raksha
Board," for "the protection of Sanatan Dharma and its culture."
The Bench, led by Chief Justice Manmohan and
comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, stated that the court cannot intervene in
matters of policy.
The Plea moved by Sanatan Hindu Sewa Sangh Trust
through Advocate Ashok Kumar stated that, as per the Constitution of India, our
country is a secular nation, which is explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.
The Government of India has constituted various
bodies or boards for the followers of different religions. However, it was
argued that followers of Sanatan Dharma, also known as Hindu Dharma, do not
have any dedicated board or government body to protect their rights and
customs, plea added.
It was also stated that members of communities
belonging to religions other than Sanatan/Hindu Dharma are engaging in various
forms of attack against Sanatan Dharma, such as attempting to convert followers
from Sanatan Dharma to other religions, which goes against the customs and
beliefs of its followers.
It was stated that the majority of people in our
country are followers of the Sanatan/Hindu religion, and as such, they have the
right to protection and other facilities related to their religion, which has
not been provided by the Government of India for several years.
The government is legally bound to protect the
rights and customs of the Sanatan/Hindu religion.
Furthermore, it was pointed out that many temples in
the country are controlled and managed by the Government of India, as well as
by state governments, with funds being collected from these temples.
Despite this, the government has not established a
dedicated body on a national scale for the protection of the Sanatan/Hindu
religion. These circumstances indicate the need for the government to create
such a body, which should be controlled and managed by the government to
protect the Sanatan/Hindu religion in the country, plea read.