News Desk, AnyTV, New Delhi
Published by: Abhishek Dixit
Updated Thu, 03 Mar 2022 08:57 PM IST
Summary
The Supreme Court had earlier on January 25 issued notice to the Center and the Election Commission on a PIL filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
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Expansion
A bench headed by CJI NV Raman told the counsel for petitioner Surjit Singh Yadav, Varun Kumar Sinha, that we feel that there is a hidden agenda in this petition. Why are you targeting particular parties? This petition should be dismissed with fine as instead of seeking general directions, the petitioner has targeted some political parties.
The bench asked the petitioner that why did you mention a particular party, as if no one else is doing it. The bench also sought information about the petitioner. The bench was told that the petitioner is the national vice president of the NGO Hindu Sena. After this, the Supreme Court refused to consider it, calling it a publicity interest litigation.
The contention of the petitioner was that the offer or promise of giving free gifts to any political party, its leader, candidates standing in the election is wrong. It can be declared to have indulged in corrupt practices and bribery under the provisions of Section-123(1)(b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The petition sought a direction to disqualify members of Congress and Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party candidates in Punjab for the ongoing assembly elections in five states.
Notice was issued to the Central Election Commission on the petition of Ashwini Upadhyay
The Supreme Court had earlier on January 25 issued notice to the Center and the Election Commission on a PIL filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. The petition had contended that the irrational promise or distribution of free gifts from public funds before elections sway the voters and shakes the roots of free and fair elections.