Children Without Religion Are Tomorrow's Promises : Kerala HC Justice VG Arun
Justice VG Arun of the Kerala High Court recently remarked that children raised without religious labels represent the promises of tomorrow. He was speaking at an event organised by the Kerala Yuktivadi Sanghom, a group of rationalists and atheists.
Commending parents who choose not to declare a religion for their children in school records, Justice Arun said:"I congratulate you for sending your children to school without filling up the religion column. Because these children are tomorrow's promises. They will be the ones to raise questions that others hesitate to ask," Justice Arun said.
Notably, in 2022, Justice Arun had delivered a significant judgment holding that EWS community certificates cannot be denied to persons just because they are non-religious. In another judgment, Justice Arun held that persons should be allowed to change their religion in their school certificates, as "no one can be tied down to one religion".
The function was organised to felicitate authors Pavanan and Vyshakhan. In his address, Justice Arun said that persons like Pavanan and Vyshakhan, who can boldly question societal norms, are necessary in the present times.
Justice Arun also expressed concerns over the rising trend of "cyber-attacks" by "social media warriors." Saying that many cases dealt with by him pertinent to FIRs over social media comments, Justice Arun wondered how Malayalees themselves could pollute and degrade their own language through vulgar and abusive posts.