Madras High Court Rules Bhagavad Gita as Moral Science, Overturns FCRA Registration Denial

Court's Ruling on Bhagavad Gita

The Madras High Court has declared that the Bhagavad Gita is not merely a religious text but rather a work of moral science. This ruling came as the court overturned the Union government's decision to deny a trust's registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

Justice GR Swaminathan presided over the case involving the Arsha Vidya Parampara trust, established in 2017, which offers online and in-person courses on Hindu scriptures, yoga, and Sanskrit.

The trust had submitted an application for FCRA registration in 2021, which remained unresolved for several years. The Union home ministry requested further information in 2024 and 2025.

In January, the trust filed a new application, which was subsequently rejected in September, with the home ministry citing the trust's perceived religious nature as the primary reason.

Challenging this decision, the trust approached the High Court. In his ruling on December 19, Justice Swaminathan stated that the Bhagavad Gita transcends any single religion, emphasizing its significance within Bharatiya civilization.

The court criticized the government's rationale for classifying the trust as a religious entity, stating it did not meet the standards outlined in FCRA Section 11, which governs organizational registration.

For the government to deny FCRA registration, it must provide a clear and well-founded justification, the court noted. Justice Swaminathan remarked that the authorities had only suggested the trust's activities seemed religious rather than definitively categorizing them as such.

Additionally, the Centre argued that the trust had received foreign funds prior to obtaining FCRA registration. The trust admitted to this and opted to resolve the issue by paying a fee under section 41 of the Act, which permits certain violations to be settled.

The court ruled that since the offence was compounded, it could not serve as a basis for rejecting the trust's application.

Justice Swaminathan instructed the Centre to issue a new notice regarding the application and to make a decision within three months.

Earlier this month, Justice Swaminathan faced controversy when Opposition MPs submitted an impeachment notice against him, claiming his recent decisions were harmful to social harmony and the integrity of the judiciary.

This controversy arose following his directive to the Subramaniya Swamy Temple authorities in Madurai to ensure that the Karthigai Deepam was lit at a specific location near a dargah.