“Have You Filed Any PILs For The Poor, Downtrodden? These Are Luxury Class PILs” CJI Misra

“People must refrain from filing such PILs… sometimes it will remain in the realm of publicity interest litigation” Chief Justice Dipak Misra

 Satya Narayan Shukla, the General Secretary of NGO Lok Prahari who was instrumental in the apex court issuing a variety of orders in cleansing the system was in for a surprise when the new Chief Justice Dipak Misra yesterday dismissed his PIL sternly telling him “all these PILs sometimes come in the realm of publicity interest litigations..these are luxury class PILs ”.

His PIL sought a direction to the Election Commission that political parties, having religious, caste, ethnic and linguistic names or connotations, be asked to change their names within three months or be de-recognised.

''Have you ever filed a PIL for the poor and downtrodden. These are luxury PILs … against the Chief Ministers and Election Commission. We are not going to entertain the PIL.. We cannot legislate. Let the political parties fight their battles outside.  It was not the duty of the judiciary to look into the case.'', an angry CJI told Shukla.

“It is not under the domain of the judiciary. The courts should not get into this. … let the court function. PIL was never conceived for such petitions” said Justice Misra.

 ‘Lok Prahari’ sought “effectuation” of section 29A of the Representation of People Act which provides that the memorandum of rules and regulations of a political party “shall contain a specific provision that the association of body shall bear truth faith and allegiance to the Constitution” and to the principles of socialism, secularism and democracy.

The parties should also say that they would uphold the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

The plea has sought a direction to the poll panel that the registration of parties, having religious, caste, ethnic and linguistic connotations, be reviewed and they be asked to change their names within three months. If they fail to do so, then their registration may be cancelled, it said.