Q. Which of the following statements is/are correct with reference to the idea of Indian secularism?
1. The doctrine of essentiality is used by the Judiciary to check if any practice is integral to a religion.
2. The term ‘Secular’ was added to the preamble by the Forty Fourth Amendment Act.
3. A policy of the State cannot have an exclusively religious rationale.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. The doctrine of essentiality is a doctrine that has evolved to protect the religious practices that are essential or integral part of the religion.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The term ‘Secular’ was added to the preamble by the forty-second constitution Amendment Act of 1976. (India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic).
Statement 3 is incorrect. It is a feature of Western Model of Secularism, and not Indian Secularism. The Indian Secularism allows for principled state intervention in all religions. The secular Indian state does not have to treat every aspect of every religion with equal respect. It allows equal disrespect for some aspects of organised religions. Indian secularism has made room for and is compatible with the idea of state-supported religious reform. Thus, in India, a policy of the state can have an exclusively religious rationale. In Western Model, the state will not intervene in the affairs of religion and, in the same manner, religion will not interfere in the affairs of the state. No policy of the state can have an exclusively religious rationale. No religious classification can be the basis of any public policy.
| Important Tips
The doctrine of “essentiality” was invented by a sevenjudge Bench of the Supreme Court in the ‘Shirur Mutt’ case in 1954. The court held that the term “religion” will cover all rituals and practices “integral” to a religion, and took upon itself the responsibility of determining the essential and non-essential practices of a religion. |
