Former Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay S Oka recently said that while the Constitution obliges every citizen to develop scientific temper, India continues to struggle because political classes “appease religions” and those who speak against superstitions are targeted instead of being supported.
Justice Oka explained that superstition is harming society, environment and fundamental rights. He added that rational voices are often silenced because they are wrongly portrayed as being anti-religion.“The political class, irrespective of parties, which rule us, believe in appeasing religions. And therefore, this class is completely unwilling to promote reforms,” he said.
Justice Oka was speaking in New Delhi while delivering the 16th VM Tarkunde Memorial Lecture at the India International Centre.
He stressed that developing scientific temper is a constitutional duty under Article 51A(h), and that performing this duty does not undermine religious freedom.“When you fight superstitions in religions or religious practices, you do not fight against the religion. You actually help the cause of religion,” he said.
He added that superstition persists in all faiths and must not be mistaken for religious devotion.“There are several instances of superstitions. Lack of scientific temper is not confined to only one religion,” he said.Justice Oka pointed to the environmental damage caused during religious festivities, including water pollution and indiscriminate use of loudspeakers. He said using technology to create pollution does not mean society has scientific temper.
He referred to pollution during the Kumbh Mela, asking whether it could be said that the rivers remained “holy” after being polluted. He highlighted a recent news report that hundreds of decades-old trees might be felled for the next Kumbh Mela in Nashik. He said actions taken in the name of religion cannot override constitutional rights or environmental duties.
Justice Oka added that the State carries a collective constitutional duty when citizens fail individually, especially in matters of environment and public health. He said the failure to encourage scientific temper reflects a failure of governance.The former judge said India has built world-class scientific institutions, but this alone does not fulfil the constitutional duty to develop scientific temper. He said scientific thinking must reach schools and colleges.
He expressed concern that students do not learn about fundamental duties at all. He added that progress, and not “the present idea of development”, is what the Constitution envisions. Scientific temper, he said, is central to that progress.Justice Oka closed his speech by returning to the legacy of Justice VM Tarkunde, saying that memory alone is insufficient.“Only remembering Justice Tarkunde is not enough. We must carry forward the mission of these great humanists,” he said.
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