What are Essential Religious Practices (ERPs)? The doctrine of ERPs governs which religious practises are to be protected under Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution. The concept of ERPs first came into being with the case: The Commissioner, Hindu Religious Endowments, Madras v Shri Lakshmindar Tirtha Swamiyar of Shri Shirur Mutt (1954) wherein the Supreme Court had initially rejected the arguments of the Advocate General of Madras, who had suggested that the constitutional protection of religious practices be extended only to ERPs. However, by the time the judgement on the case Durgah Committee, Ajmer v Syed Hussain Ali (1961) was pronounced by the Supreme Court, the court opined that religious practices may sometimes include those that spring from ‘superstition’ or ‘unessential accretion’ and, hence, may not merit constitutional protection. Hinduism: Numerous Governing Texts Monotheistic religions often have one book that commands them as to how they may worship. Hindus, howe
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