Supreme Court Dismisses Plea To Replace Term 'Hindutva' With 'Bharatiya Samvidhanatva'

In a decisive move, the Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, made headlines by rejecting a plea on Monday.

This plea put forward by Dr. S.N. Kundra, proposed an alteration in terminology from "Hindutva" to "Bharatiya Samvidhanatva" or "Indian Constitution," aiming to reflect a closer alignment with the country's secular and democratic ethos as outlined in the Constitution.

Photo Credit: PTI

However, the court's firm stance was clear, marking a moment of judicial resolve against altering the established lexicon related to Indian identity and governance.

The term "Hindutva" has long been a cornerstone of Indian Right-wing's political and social fabric, often associated with the promotion of Hindu values and religious nationalism.

Kundra's motion to transition towards "Bharatiya Samvidhanatva" sought to highlight the constitution's secular, equal, and democratic principles as the core of Indian identity.

Yet, this attempt to navigate the conversation towards a more constitution-centric narrative was promptly dismissed by the court, indicating a deliberate choice to preserve the current discourse.

Judiciary's Firm Response

The bench, including Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, alongside CJI Chandrachud, expressed a clear reluctance to entertain Kundra's plea.

CJI Chandrachud's response, "No sir, we will not entertain this," not only dismissed the petition but also labeled it as a "complete abuse of the process."

This ruling comes at a time when the discourse around religious nationalism and its influence on the country's socio-political landscape is increasingly prevalent, highlighting the complexities and sensitivities surrounding such debates in India.