Badrinath Portals Reopen — Char Dham Yatra 2026 Begins — CLAT 2027 Culture & Constitution

Key Facts at a Glance

Constitutional & Statutory Framework

• Article 25 — freedom of conscience and right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion (subject to public order, morality, health).
• Article 25(2)(a) — State may regulate ‘secular, economic, financial, political or other’ activities associated with religion.
• Article 25(2)(b) — State may throw open Hindu religious institutions of public character to all classes and sections of Hindus (temple-entry power).
• Article 26 — religious denominations’ right to establish/maintain institutions, manage affairs in ‘matters of religion’, and own/administer property.
• Article 27 — no person compelled to pay tax for promotion of any religion.
• Article 28 — no religious instruction in wholly State-funded institutions.
• Article 49 (DPSP) — State to protect monuments and places of artistic or historic interest.
• Article 51A(f) — fundamental duty to value and preserve rich heritage of composite culture.

Landmark Cases & Key Organisations

• Commissioner, HRE v LT Swamiar — Shirur Mutt (1954) — Articulated the ‘essential religious practices’ doctrine; what is ‘essential’ to a religion is constitutionally protected under Art 25/26.
• Ratilal v State of Bombay (1954) — Refined Shirur Mutt; religious/secular-activity distinction.
• Indian Young Lawyers Assn v State of Kerala — Sabarimala (2018) — Women’s entry into Sabarimala; essential-practices doctrine vs Art 14, 15, 17, 25(1).
• Shayara Bano v Union of India (2017) — Triple talaq unconstitutional; essential practices doctrine re-examined.
• Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE) — Credited with reviving Hindu philosophy and founding the four mathas at Puri, Rameswaram, Dwarka and Jyotirmath (Badrinath).
• Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Act, 2019 — Created a Board for administration; repealed in 2021 following protests by tirth-purohits; administration reverted to temple committees.
• Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 — Freezes religious character of places of worship as on 15 August 1947 (Ayodhya carved out).

CLAT 2027 Angle — Why This Matters

• ‘Essential religious practices’ doctrine is a CLAT favourite — apply it through the Shirur Mutt / Sabarimala lens.
• Difference between Art 25 (individual) and Art 26 (denominational) is crucial; temple-administration litigation almost always involves Art 26(b) ‘matters of religion’.
• Know the ‘2019-2021 Devasthanam Act’ arc as a real-world example of the State’s regulatory power under Art 25(2)(a) being politically reversed.
• Secularism test: State may regulate economic/secular activities ‘associated’ with religion (e.g., temple finances), but not ‘matters of religion’ themselves.

Mnemonic

BE-GG-RK — Badrinath, Etc. — Bharat Char Dham = Puri, Rameswaram, Dwarka, Badrinath (clockwise); Chota Char Dham = Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath.

Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions

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