Important Legal Definitions
Explore legal terms, clear definitions and practical examples.
Secularism (Indian Concept)
Constitutional & Public Law Doctrines
Definition
Unlike the Western concept of rigid separation of church and state, Indian secularism embodies Sarva Dharma Sambhava—equal respect for and equal treatment of all religions by the State, accompanied by the State's power to regulate secular activities associated with religion (Article 25(2)).
Example
In S.R. Bommai v. Union of India, the Supreme Court declared secularism an unalterable part of the Basic Structure, upholding the dismissal of State governments that acted against secularism during communal riots.