SC rejects PIL plea to delist parties

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, July 25

The Supreme Court today dismissed a PIL plea for de-recognition of political parties whose leaders made hate speeches. A Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur passed the order, observing that there was no legal provision for the purpose.

“People can vote out such parties for making hate speeches,” the Bench that included Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud remarked while dismissing a PIL filed by Brijesh Kalappa in 2012.

In its response to the SC notice on the petition, the Election Commission had expressed its inability to take action against parties in the absence of specific laws.

Earlier in 2014, another apex court Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and NV Ramana had passed a similar order, acknowledging that the judiciary could not enter into this kind of arena in the name of safeguarding constitutional provisions as there were laws to deal with such situations.

But by no stretch of logic election speeches could be categorised under public interest, the Bench had held.