The Supreme Court on Monday said India was a “secular country” and no one could be forced to accept any one entity as the “Paramatma” or Supreme Being, imposing a Rs 1-lakh fine on a petitioner for filing a frivolous public interest plea.

“India is a secular country and petitioner cannot be permitted to pray that the citizens of India may accept Sri Sri Thakur Anukul Chandra as Paramatma,” the bench of Justices M.R. Shah and C.T. Kumar said.

Petitioner Upendra Nath Dalai, a devotee, had sought an apex court directive saying everyone in the country must accept Thakur Anukul Chandra as the Paramatma. He appeared in person and argued in Hindi.

Justice Shah told the petitioner: “Chahe toh aap mano ki ek hi Guruji hain... aise kabhi hota hai bhaiya? Sabko pura adhikar hai yeh country mein. Jisko jo dharam manna hai, mane (If you want you may believe that there’s just one Guru, but is what you want possible? In India, everyone has the right to choose their faith and God).”

When Dalai tried to argue further, the bench said: “We are not here to listen to your lecture. India is a secular country. (The provision of the) PIL has a meaning. Now people will think at least four times before filing such PILs.”

The bench said it was imposing an “exemplary cost” of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioner, to be deposited within four weeks with the Supreme Court registry.

Dalai had named the BJP as a respondent along with several other organisations such as the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and the National Christian Council.