Seminar held among lawyers fraternity.
Jammu, December 20, 2025: The Research and Advocacy Group (RAAG) today organized a seminar for members of the legal fraternity at the Conference Hall of Lawyers’ Chambers, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir, Jammu. The seminar was held on the theme “Shree Guru Teg Bahadur Ji: A Sacrificial Legacy Shaping India’s Constitutional Ethos of Religious Freedom under Article 25.”
Shri Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri, former Vice Chancellor, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, delivered the keynote address. Shri D.S. Saini, former President, J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu (JKHCBAJ), was the Chief Guest, while Shri Nirmal Kotwal, President JKHCBAJ, attended as Guest of Honour. The seminar featured distinguished speakers including Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi, Senior Advocate Surinder Kaur, and Shri Pradeep Dutta, Senior Journalist.
The programme was coordinated by Advocate Prem Sadotra and Advocate Arvind Khajuria. Introducing the theme and speakers, Advocate Prem Sadotra stated that RAAG is committed to research-driven legal discourse and regularly conducts seminars and discussions on critical legal and socio-legal issues. He emphasized that Article 25 of the Constitution of India is not a borrowed Western concept, but draws inspiration from India’s civilizational history particularly the supreme sacrifices of great Gurus who laid down their lives to protect freedom of religion and belief.
In his keynote address, Shri Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri distinguished between dharma and religion, terming their conflation a flawed Western construct. He explained that dharma signifies duty which is Raj Dharma for the State to uphold the rule of law, the teacher’s duty to educate honestly, and the doctor’s duty to treat patients with compassion. He cautioned that mere rule of law, divorced from dharma, can justify oppression, whereas adherence to dharma is inherently moral and rights-affirming. He also highlighted the symbolism of the Panj Pyare, drawn from all regions of India, as a unifying force against adharma and for the protection of religious freedom.
Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi observed that while resistance to Mughal oppression existed, the sacrifice of Shree Guru Teg Bahadur Ji became a beacon that inspired widespread resistance and fortified the spirit of religious freedom. He noted that understanding these sacrifices is essential to grasp the true spirit of Article 25.
Shri Pradeep Dutta contrasted Guru Teg Bahadur Ji’s inclusive philosophy with the exclusivist policies of the Mughals, drawing parallels between historical religious oppression and the atrocities faced by Kashmiri Hindus in the 1990s. He also cautioned against selective human-rights narratives that remain silent on contemporary instances of targeted violence.
Senior Advocate Surinder Kaur reflected on Guru Teg Bahadur Ji’s life of tapasya, underscoring his humility and moral courage. She recalled how the Kashmiri Pandits sought his protection against tyranny and how the inspiration from his young son strengthened his resolve to sacrifice his life to uphold dharma.
In his address, Shri Nirmal Kotwal congratulated the organizers and remarked that during the Mughal era, the subcontinent lived under pervasive fear with freedom gravely threatened. Chief Guest Shri D.S. Saini recalled the brutal torture and execution of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji and his disciples for refusing to renounce their faith, describing it as a unique and unparalleled act of voluntary fearlessness—“Nirbhau, Nirvair.”
The vote of thanks was proposed by Advocate Baldev Singh, Vice President JKHCBAJ. The seminar concluded with the collective singing of Vande Mataram.
The seminar witnessed enthusiastic participation from a large number of advocates and legal scholars. The organizing team included Advocate Saket Rathore, Advocate Pawan Choudhary, Advocate Bharat, Advocate Navneet, Advocate Karan Prasher, Advocate Neha Rajput, Advocate Aditya Raina, Advocate Deepak Sharma, and others.
