The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the stand of the Centre and city government on a PIL seeking a direction to the authorities to use the “proper meaning” of the term “religion” and not use it as a synonym of “dharma” in the official documents.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma granted time to the governments for responding to the petition by lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. The petition also sought a direction to include a chapter on “dharma” & “religion” in the syllabus of primary and secondary schools “in order to educate the masses and control the religion-based hatred and hate speeches”.
“There is a colonial mindset which is being continued,” stated the petitioner before the bench, also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela. In his petition, the petitioner asserted that “dharma” is not religion as the former is “non-divisive”, “non-exclusive” and “transcends narrow boundaries of religion”.
“If we try to define religion then we can say that religion is a tradition, not dharma. Religion is a cult or a spiritual lineage that is called a ‘sampradaya’ (community). So, religion means community,” the plea said as it prayed that “dharma” shouldn’t be used as synonym of “religion” in documents like birth certificate, aadhaar card, school certificate, ration card, driving licence, domicile certificate, death certificate and bank account etc.
The petition submitted, “In daily life, we say this person follows ‘Vaishnav dharma’ or Jain dharma, or someone follows Buddhism or Islam or Christianity that’s not right. Instead, we should say that a person follows ‘Vaishnav sampradaya’ or this person follows ‘Shiv sampradaya’ or follows ‘Buddha sampradaya’. This person follows Islam or Christan sampradaya.”
It explained, “There have been many wars and war-like situations for religion. Religion works on a mass of people. In religion, people follow someone or someone’s path. On another side, dharma is a work of wisdom.”
The petitioner further stated, “religion has been one of the most potent divisive forces in all history” while “dharma” is “different because it unites”.
The petition stated, “There can never be divisions in dharma. Every interpretation is valid and welcome. No authority is too great to be questioned, too sacred to be touched. Unlimited interpretative freedom through free will is the quintessence of dharma, for dharma is as limitless as truth itself. No one can ever be its sole mouthpiece.”
The petitioner therefore urged the court to pass appropriate directions considering the “present circumstances of religious wars, religious hatred and religious hate speeches”. The matter would be heard next on January 16.