‘Re-educate yourself’: SC dismisses plea challenging Darwin’s theory of evolution, Einstein’s E=MC²

A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia said there cannot be a writ petition under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution to challenge scientific beliefs.

By: Express Web Desk

Pune | Updated: October 13, 2023 05:32 PM IST

2 min read

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The Supreme Court Friday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and Einstein’s theory of special relativity that expresses the equivalence of mass and energy (E=MC²).

As the PIL came for a hearing, petitioner Raj Kumar, who came to the courtroom clad in saffron clothes, said he had studied in his school and college about Darwin’s theory and Einstein but found them incorrect and, therefore, should not be taught in educational institutions.

Replying to the petitioner’s contention, the bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia said: “Then you go re-educate yourself or make your own theory. We cannot compel anyone to unlearn. Dismissed.”

The top court stated that there cannot be a writ petition under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution to challenge scientific beliefs.

“This cannot be a writ petition under article 32 of the Indian Constitution, which has to deal with the issues of fundamental rights,” the bench said. “If you believe that those theories were wrong, then the Supreme Court has nothing to do. What is the violation of your fundamental right under Article 32?” the bench remarked.

The Theory of Evolution, proposed by the English naturalist Darwin, explains that all living beings evolved through natural selection. Einstein’s famous equation E = mc2 says that energy and mass (matter) are interchangeable.

With inputs from PTI

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