In re: Article 31 (1980) was a unanimous Superior Tribunal case arising when a Diviner in District III attempted to revoke the citizenship of a woman who sought an abortion, claiming the act violated religious law and justified denaturalisation.
Background
The Diviner issued an administrative order stripping citizenship and referring the woman for “religious correction.” Counsel petitioned the Superior Tribunal directly, arguing that Article 31 (Bodily Autonomy) of the Constitution placed medical choice beyond Diviner competence.
Holding
The Tribunal ruled 11–0. Article 31 was held to supersede Diviner discretion over private medical decisions; religious offices cannot revoke citizenship for exercising a constitutional bodily-autonomy right.
Result: The Diviner’s order was quashed. Citizenship was restored (or treated as never lawfully revoked). No criminal charges against the woman proceeded; the Diviner faced no criminal penalty but the order was void ab initio.
Legacy
The decision remains the leading citation against religious-office overreach into private medical choices and is taught as proof that Kresimirian theocracy is constitutionally constrained. Catalogue: Landmark Cases.