SC's obligation to protect women, churches and religious freedom

New Delhi, March 20 (IANS) The Supreme Court will hear a plea seeking security for women and freedom of religion in the wake of attack on nuns and churches in some parts of the country moved by a lawyer who held it was the apex court's obligation to protect them.

"It is the duty of the court to take suo motu cognizance of security of women and protect churches and religious freedom from attacks," advocate Lily Thomas told a bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu, Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice Arun Mishra on Friday.

"It is the constitutional obligation of the apex court and the court shall take suo motu action against the government for its failure to protect the women, Churches and religious freedom," she told the court in a mentioning.

Referring to Hindu holy book, the "Bhagwad Gita", Thomas said that it was the court's obligation to establish "dharma" (righteousness) by protecting poor and week.

"The court and the judiciary in the present is the manifestation of Hindu god Mahavishnu. In the 'Kalayuga' the avatar does not come as a person but as an institution of judiciary," Thomas told the court as it asked her to file her petition that it would hear next week.

The court referred to Thomas' citing from the book as it declined to entertain a plea by another advocate, seeking that the government be directed to declare the "Bhagwad Gita" a national scripture.

Chief Justice Dattu quipped that the court are hearing shlokas from the Gita on Friday.