In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Monday said that seeking votes on the basis of caste, community, religion or language is illegal.
The top court said that parties have to abide by the tenets of the constitution.
A constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Justice T.S. Thakur by a 4:3 majority passed the order on the basis of Section 123(3) of the Representation of People's Act.
The dissenting judgment was delivered by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit.
“Relation between an individual and God is an independent choice,” said the apex court which is revisiting a 20-year-old judgment that called Hinduism a “way of life”.
The latest verdict assumes significance as it came just weeks ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
(With inputs from agencies)
