The apex court, which delivered a historic unanimous judgment putting the curtains down on the vexatious legal battle that has torn the social fabric of the nation, said citizens of all faiths, beliefs and creeds 'seeking divine provenance' are both subject to law and equal before law under the Indian Constitution.

It further said that he cannot live merely on 'past glory' as the trust has been reposed in him for defending the country.

The petitioners urged the SC that if the tigress was shot dead, both her cubs would not be able to survive in the forest.

It asked that even in cases where the victim had died, 'why should there be disclosure of name'.

"Tell the women in your state that you do not care for them," the bench said while observing that 24 states and UTs have not yet filed their affidavit as per the court's direction.

This assumes significance as a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra is currently hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar scheme and the enabling 2016 law.

A woman has a choice to love or not to love a person. No one can force her to love somebody, observes the SC.