Religious Denomination - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition religious-denomination

Definition :

Religious denomination, different sects and sub-sects of the Hindu Religion having a common faith and a common spiritual organisation come under the definition of denomination, Shirur Math v. Commission of Endowment, (1952) 1 MLJ 557.

Religious denomination, enjoys certain rights per-taining to the establishment, management etc., of its own religion and charitable institutions, A Commentary on the Constitution of India, Durga Das Basu, 4th Edn., Vol. 2, p. 159.

Religious denomination, in India, subject to public order, morality and health, every religious denomination or any section thereof enjoys the fundamental right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes, to manage its own affairs in matters of religion, to own and acquire movable and immovable property and to administer such property in accordance with law, Constitution of India, Art. 26.

Religious denomination, is a religious sect or body having a common faith and organization and designated by a distinctive name, Commissioner v. Lakshmindra, 1954 SCR 1005.

Religious denomination, the word 'denomination' means a class or collection of individuals called by the same name; a sect; a class of units; a dis-tinctively named church or sect as clergy of all denominations. The words 'religious denomina-tion' under Article 26 of the Constitution must take their colour from the word religion and if this be so the expression religious denomination must also specify three conditions, namely, it must be (1) a collection of religious faith, a system of belief which is conducive to the spiritual well-being, i.e., a common faith; (2) common organisation; (3) a designation by a distinctive name, Sri Adi Visheshwara of Kashi Vishwanatha Temple v. State of Uttar Pradesh, (1997) 4 SCC 606 (626). (Constitution of India, Art. 26)

Religious denomination can be defined as 'a collection of individuals classed together under the same name, a religious sect or body having a common faith and organisation and designated by a distinctive name, S. P. Mittal v. Union of India, (1983) 1 SCC 51: AIR 1983 SC 1 (9). [Constitution of India, Arts. 25, 26]

The words 'religious denomination' take their colour from the word 'religion'. The expression 'religious denomination' must satisfy three requirements: (1) it must be a collection of individuals who have a system of belief or doctrine which they regard as conducive to their spiritual well-being i.e., a common faith; (2) a common organisation; and (3) designation of a distinctive name. It necessarily follows that the common faith of the community should be based on religion and in that they should have common religious tenets and the basic cord which connects them, should be religion and not merely, considerations of caste or community or societal status, Nallor Marthandam Vellalar v. Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, (2003) 10 SCC 712 (716).