Supreme Court dismisses Tamil Nadu Smartha Brahmins’ plea looking for minority standing
2 min readBy PTI
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea for minority standing filed by Smartha Brahmins dwelling in Tamil Nadu and propagating the non secular philosophy of Advaita.
A bench comprising justices Krishna Murari and S Ravindra Bhat upheld a Madras High Court order which had held that Smartha Brahmins usually are not a spiritual denomination and therefore, couldn’t be accorded minority standing.
“Many people follow the Advaita philosophy. In that case, we will have a nation of minorities,” the bench mentioned.
The excessive court docket on June 7, 2022, had mentioned Smartha Brahmins weren’t entitled to advantages underneath Article 26 (freedom to handle non secular affairs) of the Constitution of India.
“It is clear that there is no common organisation whatsoever by the name Smartha Brahmins or any other name. It is just a caste/community without any peculiarity specifically attributable to them which distinguishes them from other Brahmins of the State of Tamil Nadu.”
“Hence, they cannot call themselves to be a religious denomination. Consequently, they are not entitled to the benefits under Article 26 of the Constitution of India. Both the substantial questions of law are answered as against the appellants,” the excessive court docket had mentioned.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea for minority standing filed by Smartha Brahmins dwelling in Tamil Nadu and propagating the non secular philosophy of Advaita.
A bench comprising justices Krishna Murari and S Ravindra Bhat upheld a Madras High Court order which had held that Smartha Brahmins usually are not a spiritual denomination and therefore, couldn’t be accorded minority standing.
“Many people follow the Advaita philosophy. In that case, we will have a nation of minorities,” the bench mentioned.
The excessive court docket on June 7, 2022, had mentioned Smartha Brahmins weren’t entitled to advantages underneath Article 26 (freedom to handle non secular affairs) of the Constitution of India.
“It is clear that there is no common organisation whatsoever by the name Smartha Brahmins or any other name. It is just a caste/community without any peculiarity specifically attributable to them which distinguishes them from other Brahmins of the State of Tamil Nadu.”
“Hence, they cannot call themselves to be a religious denomination. Consequently, they are not entitled to the benefits under Article 26 of the Constitution of India. Both the substantial questions of law are answered as against the appellants,” the excessive court docket had mentioned.
