Plea In Supreme Court Seeks Direction That New Parliament Building Should Be Inaugurated By President Instead Of Prime Minister

Amidst the political controversy regarding the new Parliament building being inaugurated by the Prime Minister, a Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction that the inauguration should be done by the President of India.

The petition filed by Advocate CR Jaya Sukin as party-in-person seeks any "direction, observation or suggestion" to the Lok Sabha Secretariat that the inauguration should be done by the President. The petitioner cites a statement issued by the Lok Sabha Secretary General on May 18 as per which the new Parliament building will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. He says that the Lok Sabha Secretariat violated the Constitution by not inviting the President for the inauguration.

The petitioner refers to Article 79 of the Constitution which says that Parliament consists of the President and the two houses. It is pointed out that the President, the first citizen of the nation, has the power to summon and prorogue the Parliament sessions. It is the President who appoints the Prime Minister and other Ministers and all executive actions are taken in the name of the President. It is argued that the not inviting the President for the ceremony is a humiliation and a violation of the Constitution.

The petitioner argues that the statement of the Lok Sabha Secretariat has been issued in an arbitrary manner, without proper application of mind.

"President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu is not being invited to the inauguration of the new Parliament Building. Indian President enjoys certain powers and performs a variety of ceremonial functions. The powers of the President include Executive, Legislative, Judiciary, emergency, and military powers...", the petition says.

19 opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration ceremony saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, “completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu”, was not only “a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy, which demands a commensurate response”.

“In short, the Parliament cannot function without the President. Yet, the Prime Minister has decided to inaugurate the new Parliament building without her. This undignified act insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution. It undermines the spirit of inclusion which saw the nation celebrate its first woman adivasi President,” the statement issued by the parties stated.

The signatories include the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena (Udhav Thackeray), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India, Indian Union Muslim League, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, National Conference, Kerala Congress (Mani), Revolutionary Socialist Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.