'Why Hurt Jain Sentiments?' Supreme Court Dismisses PIL Seeking Research On 'Tamasic' Nature Of Onion & Garlic

The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up an advocate who filed a petition seeking directions to conduct a research on whether onion and garlic had 'tamasic' or 'negative' content.

Dismissing the petition as frivolous, the bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi rebuked the lawyer, who appeared as party-in-person, for filing such a PIL.

"Why do you want to hurt the sentiments of the Jain community?" CJI Surya Kant asked.  

The petitioner replied, "Because this issue is very common, in Gujarat, recently a divorce happened because of onions in food."

Expressing deep dissatisfaction with the petition, CJI observed, "Next time you come up with this kind of frivolous petition, you will see what we will do!"

The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, sought directions to constitute a committee and conduct research on what was tamsik or negative content in onion and garlic. Jains avoid onions, garlics and root vegetables, regarding them as 'tamasic' food.

Apart from this petition, the lawyer, Sachin Gupta, had filed three other PILs as well. One sought directions to regulate the harmful content in alcohol and tobacco products. The second one sought directions to ensure mandatory registration of properties. The third one sought guidelines regarding declaration of classical languages.

The Court dismissed all petitions as vague and frivolous. The Court noted that the petitions were poorly drafted, seeking vague relief. "Such frivolous matters are burdening the Court," CJI Surya Kant said.

The Chief Justice said that the Court would have imposed exemplary costs on the petitioner had he not been a lawyer.

Case : SACHIN GUPTA v. UNION OF INDIA Diary No. 53583-2025, Diary No. 53368-2025, 53585-2025 etc.