AP image NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed grave apprehension over allowing individuals to challenge religious practices and said it would break every religion and constitutional court as thousands would clog courts with PILs, based on self-assessments of these customs, to seek quashing the customs and norms. The remark came from a bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justices B V Nagarathna, M M Sundresh, A Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, A G Masih, P B Varale, R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi after senior advocate Raju Ramachandran said since the Constitution focuses on protecting an individual’s fundamental rights, constitutional courts must step in if a religious practice or custom violates the rights of an individual. Justice Nagarathna said, “If every individual is free to approach the constitutional court to question or challenge religious practices and customs in constitutional courts, what will happen to our civilisation, which is intrinsically linked to religion?” Justice Sundresh said, “In such a scenario, every religion and constitutional court will break as thousands of individuals, with different views about religion and religious practices, will come to court clogging the system. A religious custom or practice may be regressive from the viewpoint of an individual, and the same could be an essential religious practice for another. How does the court determine who is right? Should courts get mired in adjudicating religious matters?” He clarified he did not mean a person, wronged by a religious practice, had no remedies. He/she can surely move the civil courts. The debate over fundamental rights and faith-based customs saw Ramachandran standing firm with his opinion that individual’s fundamental rights cannot be violated through religious customs. “We are a constitutional civilisation, where nothing can violate fundamental rights. Any violation would entitle the aggrieved individual to approach courts under Article 32 of the Constitution,” he said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To ResignSatadru Dutta Accuses TMC’s Aroop Biswas Of Sabotaging Lionel Messi Kolkata EventWill Vijay Fight In Court For CM Post? | India Destroyed 13 Pakistani Aircraft | Headlines @9’Whatever Requires To Be Done’: Indian Air Force On Recent Missile Tests By Pakistan And China’Pending For Over 5 Yrs…’: India Reacts To Bangladesh’s ‘Pushback’ Remark After BJP’s Bengal Win’It Was Abhishek Banerjee’: BJP Blames TMC Leaders After Suvendu Adhikari’s Close Aide Shot Dead’No Terror Sanctuary Is Safe’: Indian Army Warns Pakistan On Op Sindoor Anniversary’Killed Him Because I Defeated Mamata In Bhabanipur’: Suvendu Adhikari On PA Chandranath’s Killing’Aap Haare Nahi Hain’: Akhilesh Yadav Tells Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata After TMC’s Bengal RoutIn Punjab Money Laundering Case Cash Bags Hurled From Ninth Floor During Raids123PhotostoriesMorning affirmation at 5 AM: A quiet reset before the chaos beginsRashtrapati Bhavan treated the Vietnamese President with Punjabi and Haryanvi meal: This is what was served on the menuHow to make Gujarati Kadhi for summer dinner at homeHappy Birthday Sai Pallavi: ‘Amaran’, ‘Premam’, ‘Fidaa’ – Films of the natural star to binge-watch on OTTThings you are not allowed to do in your garden in the USSimple kitchen habits that may attract more lizards indoorsMet Gala 2026: Weirdest red carpet looks that stole the spotlight this year5 beautiful scented plants to add to your garden todayStrengths of being an introvert: 5 unique traits of people who prefer to be alone over socialisingTaking supplements every day? Doctor warns they may be doing more harm than good123Hot PicksBihar ministers listDelhi traffic advisoryDelhi rainPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingKerala CMWest Bengal ViolenceTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Kerala plus one improvement resultBihar cabinet expansionWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaBihar Ministers ListRCB vs LSG IPL Match Today
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed grave apprehension over allowing individuals to challenge religious practices and said it would break every religion and constitutional court as thousands would clog courts with PILs, based on self-assessments of these customs, to seek quashing the customs and norms. The remark came from a bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justices B V Nagarathna, M M Sundresh, A Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, A G Masih, P B Varale, R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi after senior advocate Raju Ramachandran said since the Constitution focuses on protecting an individual’s fundamental rights, constitutional courts must step in if a religious practice or custom violates the rights of an individual. Justice Nagarathna said, “If every individual is free to approach the constitutional court to question or challenge religious practices and customs in constitutional courts, what will happen to our civilisation, which is intrinsically linked to religion?” Justice Sundresh said, “In such a scenario, every religion and constitutional court will break as thousands of individuals, with different views about religion and religious practices, will come to court clogging the system. A religious custom or practice may be regressive from the viewpoint of an individual, and the same could be an essential religious practice for another. How does the court determine who is right? Should courts get mired in adjudicating religious matters?” He clarified he did not mean a person, wronged by a religious practice, had no remedies. He/she can surely move the civil courts. The debate over fundamental rights and faith-based customs saw Ramachandran standing firm with his opinion that individual’s fundamental rights cannot be violated through religious customs. “We are a constitutional civilisation, where nothing can violate fundamental rights. Any violation would entitle the aggrieved individual to approach courts under Article 32 of the Constitution,” he said.
