Defaming Hinduism And Promoting Christianity: IMA President Not To Use The Platform To Promote Religion

What Is The Case

• A Delhi court on Thursday ordered the President of the Indian Medical Association, Dr JA Jayalal, to refrain from using the IMA platform to promote any religion and instead focus on the welfare of the medical community, noting that "saying Christianity and Allopathy are the same and are a gift of the Western world" would be the "most inaccurate assertion."
• The news came as a result of a lawsuit brought by Rohit Jha, who claimed that Jayalal began a defamation campaign against Hinduism by pushing Christianity under the guise of "showing the superiority of Allopathic medications over Ayurvedic medicines" in covid therapy.
• Jha had relied on a news report from Nation World News dated March 30, 2021, as well as a recent TV debate between Jayalal and Baba Ramdev on news networks.

Details Of The Case

• Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Goel stated, "It is the duty of every Indian to respect each other's faith." "Nobody should go too far by allowing, pressuring, or creating situations that indicate compelled assent or seek to lure people.
• It would be the most inaccurate assumption to say that Christianity and Allopathy are the same and that they are both gifts from the Western culture. Sushruta, an Indian, is revered as the God of Surgery, and surgery is an important part of Allopathy."
• In addition, the Court stated "Anyone in charge of the responsible role cannot be expected to make any kind of unguarded or careless remark. IMA is a famous organisation whose goals and objectives are focused on doctor welfare and other related issues. Such a platform cannot be used to spread any individual's religious views."
• Jayalal had "seriously disparaged and denigrated his reputation in society as a Hindu," according to Jha, and said that in order to convert Hindus to Christianity, he was misusing his position as President of IMA and thus doing everything he could to mislead the nation and its residents.

Court’s Order

• The Court noted, quoting DY Chandrachud's views in the Navtej Johar case: "Secularism is a basic part of our Constitution, and it is not the responsibility of any one community to keep secularism alive in India; it is the collective effort of all Indians. The right to practise one's own religion is protected under the constitution, but only in relation to other religions. For public servants who perform public tasks, a person's religion, faith, or belief is irrelevant."
• Hearing the arguments, the Court determined that the IMA President's article published in 'Christian Today' on March 30, 2021 was valid "it's not appropriate.
• In addition, the Court noted that: "Despite the fact that the debate between Ayurveda and Allopathy has been highlighted, this court is not willing to comment more. Every type of treatment is vital, with its own set of advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation.
• However, no one can expect someone in charge of the accountable post to make any kind of unguarded or careless remark. IMA is a famous organisation whose goals and objectives are focused on doctor welfare and other related issues.
• Such a platform can't be utilised to spread any individual's religious views."

What do think about the case?