Sanatana Dharma case: Observations on origin of caste system from recent judgment erased

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court altered the observation regarding origin of the caste system in the recent judgment rendered in the quo warranto petition against Ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin, PK Sekarbabu and DMK MP A Raja for their remarks on Sanatana Dharma.

Justice Anita Sumanth pronounced the judgment in a batch of petitions seeking to remove the ministers and MP from holding their public office, as they acted against the beliefs and faiths of Hindus.

On March 6, the judge pronounced the order refusing to issue quo warranto against the ministers and MP, as there has been no conviction against them in respect to the issue.

However, the judge critically remarked on their statements against Sanatana Dharma as it is perverse, divisive, and contrary to Constitutional principles and ideals and tantamount to gross dis or misinformation.

The judge also observed the origin of the caste system which is prevailing in the society and wrote

“However, the origins of the caste system as we know it today are less than a century old…”

That portion has been removed from the order copy, which is available on the office website of High Court with altered observation signed by Justice Anitha Sumanth. The revised order read, “However, the categorisation of castes as we know them today, is a far more recent and modern phenomenon…”

The judge also observed that the varna system does not contemplate division based on birth, but based on avocation.

“The varna system was designed to work towards the smooth functioning of society centuries ago”, the judge observed while disposing of the petitions preferred by T Manohar, Kishore Kumar, and VP Jayakumar, the functionaries of Hindu Munnani seeking to take action against the ministers and MP for their alleged comments against Sanatana Dharma.