HC: Can’t direct parties to implement poll manifestos

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 12

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that assurances and commitments made before the elections by political parties in their manifestos cannot be enforced through the process of courts.

The judgment came ahead of the parliamentary polls on a petition filed by Mahesh Chander Singh against the state government and other respondents. Appearing before the Bench of Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa, his counsel sought issuance of directions to the respondent-authorities to implement and fulfil the commitments to the farmers in the state during the Assembly and parliamentary elections.

Taking up the matter, Justice Dhindsa asserted that the issue raised in the petition was founded upon an election manifesto circulated by the political parties concerned. “This court is of the considered view that a writ of mandamus would not be issued to implement such assurances/commitments if any”. Describing the writ petition as “wholly misconceived”, Justice Dhindsa dismissed the plea.

The Punjab government, otherwise, has placed before the Bench an affidavit giving the details of 100 beneficiary-farmers of Mansa district. The list came less than a year after the government told the High Court that Rs 423.44 crore had been disbursed to 68,917 beneficiaries.

The affidavit placed before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli, included their names, amount disbursed and the date of disbursement. The developments took place during the hearing of a petition filed against the state government and other respondents by Mohit Kapoor through counsel Ravi Kamal Gupta.