New Delhi: God called by any other name means the same, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday while dismissing a petition challenging the legality of legislators taking oath in the name of Allah.
MLAs and MPs taking oath in the name of "Allah" during their swearing-in is legally and Constitutionally valid, the court said.
"Allah is an Arabic word for God so what is the problem," said a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran.
The court gave the ruling while hearing a petition filed by Madhu Parumala, vice president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, against a court order which upheld the oath taken by 11 MLAs of the Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala last year.
Madhu claimed taking oath in the name of Allah violated Article 188 and third schedule of the Constitution, which says legislators have to take oath by saying ‘I swear in the name of God’ or ‘I solemnly affirm’. The petition demanded the membership of the 11 MLAs be set aside.
Madhu's lawyer said MLAs took oath in the name of Allah to get publicity, but the replied: "by filing such petition you are also seeking publicity".
The verdict is interesting, as a petition against a Kerala MLA who took oath in the name of Sri Narayan Guru is pending before the court which will decide whether a legislator can take oath in the name of a person.
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