{"id":167035,"date":"2022-02-07T19:57:05","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T14:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?page_id=167035"},"modified":"2022-02-07T19:57:05","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T14:27:05","slug":"answered-what-is-the-essential-religious-practices-test-how-far-in-your-opinion-the-essential-religious-practices-test-has-been-ab","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answered-what-is-the-essential-religious-practices-test-how-far-in-your-opinion-the-essential-religious-practices-test-has-been-ab\/","title":{"rendered":"[Answered] What is the essential religious practices test? How far, in your opinion, the essential religious practices test has been ab"},"content":{"rendered":"<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Introduction: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Define the essential practices test.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Body: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Explain the essential practices test, citing judicial pronouncement. Write the benefits and issues associated with the doctrine.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Conclusion:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> briefly provide a way forward.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Essential religious practice test is a <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">doctrine evolved by the supreme court <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">(SC) to protect only such religious practices under fundamental rights, which are essential and integral to religion.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The doctrine of \u201c<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">essentiality<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d was invented by a seven-judge Bench of the SC in the <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2018Shirur Mutt\u2019 case in 1954.<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> The court then took the responsibility of determining the essential practices of a religion upon itself.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Indian constitution under <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Article 25-28<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of religion with some reasonable restrictions. The I<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ndian model of secularism<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> also provides for state\u2019s intervention in religion to ensure freedom of religion.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When the exercise of religious practices came in conflict with other fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution. The doctrine of essentiality was utilized to decide on the constitutionality of such practices.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Some examples of the use of the doctrine.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sri Venkataramana Devaru vs State of Mysore case, 1958, the<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> supreme court had to decide, whether restrictions on entry into temples for some sections, was an \u201cessential part of the Hindu religion\u201d. It held that such practices are unconstitutional and void, and <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">opened the temples for all Hindus<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In Ayodhya Case, the court held that offering prayers was an essential practice of Islam, but offering prayers in the <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">mosque was not essential practice<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In Sabarimala case, the <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">SC lifted the ban<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> that prevented women and girls between the age of 10 and 50 (mainly menstruating women) from <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">entering the famous Ayyappa shrine. <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It held that the centuries-old Hindu religious practice was <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">unconstitutional as<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> it violated article 14.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Judicial interventions in religious matters have led to the following benefits<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It has ensured balance between fundamental rights. For example, in Sabrimala case, SC attempted to strike a balance between the two fundamental rights of the right to equality and the right to freedom of religion<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In ensured social justice during the practice of Right to freedom of religion.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It ensured that <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">constitutional morality was given primacy over religious morality.<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> To give freedom to people in a multicultural society, example SC struck down section 377.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It ensured that there will be <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">primacy of rule of law<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> rather than rule of religion. It helps in eliminating the possibility of conflict between different sections of society.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Lastly, the doctrine protects the essential practices of religion from interference of state.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">However, some there are many issues associated with the use of essentiality doctrine, these issues require attention of SC.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It raises a major question,<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> what constitutes an essential practice<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> shall be decided by the judges or members of the community?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There is <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">no fixed parameter for deciding the essential practices,<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> in some cases they have relied on religious texts to determine essentiality, in others on the empirical behaviour of followers, and in yet others, based on whether the practice existed at the time the religion originated.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Constitutional law experts have argued that the <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">essentiality\/integrality doctrine lead the court into an area that is beyond its competence<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and given judges the power to decide purely religious questions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The basic idea of the constitution was to create a progressive and just society, which makes <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">higher judiciary duty bound to strike down social evils<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> present in religious practices. But while exercising this doctrine the court should keep in mind that <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">religion is also a crucial aspect of human development and social harmony<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Hence excessive interference shall be avoided.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction: Define the essential practices test. Body: Explain the essential practices test, citing judicial pronouncement. Write the benefits and issues associated with the doctrine. Conclusion:\u00a0 briefly provide a way forward.\u00a0 Essential religious practice test is a doctrine evolved by the supreme court (SC) to protect only such religious practices under fundamental rights, which are essential&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answered-what-is-the-essential-religious-practices-test-how-far-in-your-opinion-the-essential-religious-practices-test-has-been-ab\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">[Answered] What is the essential religious practices test? How far, in your opinion, the essential religious practices test has been ab<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10320,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-167035","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/167035","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10320"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167035"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/167035\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}