New Delhi, Aug 11 : Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to 26 political parties, by restraining them from using “I.N.D.I.A.”, as an acronym for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, the opposition alliance.
A Bench of the Top Court, headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and also comprising Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, refused to entertain the PIL filed by one Rohit Kheriwal.
“Who are you to file this? This seems to be purely a publicity interest litigation,” the bench of the Supreme Court observed and refused to entertain the PIL.
The Bench further observed, “If you have any grievances, you should approach the Election Commission to take appropriate actions.”
Advocate-on-Record Dhawal Uniyal, representing the petitioner, told the Apex Court to consider the case on its merits.
“Why are these respondent political parties using ‘I.N.D.I.A,’ which goes against the principles of the Constitution of India?” He further requested the Court to direct the Election Commission to remove the name being used by the opposition alliance,” Uniyal submitted to the Top Court.
Uniyal also informed the SC that Delhi High Court had issued notice in a similar matter.
Justice Kaul, declining to entertain the PIL, warned the petitioner to either withdraw the PIL or face its dismissal. “You can either withdraw it voluntarily, or we will dismiss it”, the Judge said.
The Counsel then requested the Court’s permission to withdraw the plea, to which the SC allowed.
