The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, declined to entertain a plea seeking directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to disqualify Prime Minister Narendra Modi from elections for six years. The plea alleged that PM Modi had sought votes in the name of religious deities and places of worship, violating electoral norms.
Court Proceedings
A bench presided over by Justice Vikram Nath informed the petitioner’s counsel that such a plea filed directly before the apex court under Article 32 of the Constitution could not be entertained initially. The bench suggested that relevant authorities, in this case, the ECI, should be approached first.
Bench’s Remark
The bench, which also comprised Justice S.C. Sharma, remarked that it could allow the withdrawal of the plea. The petitioner’s counsel then sought liberty to approach the ECI with the grievance raised in the plea. However, the apex court did not grant any such liberty and dismissed the petition as withdrawn.
Petitioner’s Allegation
The petitioner, Fatima, a resident of Delhi, expressed dissatisfaction with the ECI’s inaction against PM Modi and thus hurriedly approached the apex court. The plea alleged that PM Modi not only sought votes in the name of Hindu and Sikh deities and their places of worship but also made derogatory remarks against opposing political parties, particularly favoring Muslims.
Background
In a similar vein, in April, the Delhi High Court had dismissed a petition seeking the disqualification of PM Modi for allegedly soliciting votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by invoking Hindu and Sikh deities and places of worship.
While the plea brought before the Supreme Court sought stringent action against PM Modi for his alleged violation of electoral norms, the apex court’s decision to decline entertaining the plea emphasizes the importance of following due process and approaching relevant authorities first. The dismissal of the petition underscores the complexities surrounding electoral disputes and the need for a systematic approach in addressing grievances.
