The judgment came on Monday ahead of the assembly elections in five Indian states where faith and caste are top poll issues, the Hindustan Times reported.
The function of an elected representative should be secular, the judges said adding : “Religion has no role in electoral process, which is a secular activity.
“Mixing state with religion is not constitutionally permissible.”
The verdict said elections can’t be fought by making a pitch to the candidates’, opponents’ or voters’ religion, caste, race, community or language.
However, three of the seven judges dissented and said any such verdict would reduce democracy to an abstraction.
They said such a decision amounted to “judicial redrafting of the law”.
“No government is perfect. The law does not prohibit dialogue or discussion of a matter which is concern to the voters,” the dissenters said.
Elections in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarkhand, Manipur and Goa would be held in a few months.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
