Supreme Court rejects petition filed by Muthalik

The Asian Age.

India, All India

The SC on Thursday orally observed that the Congress party promising in its election manifesto in Karnataka Assembly polls to eradicate social.

Pramod Muthalik

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday orally observed that the Congress party promising in its election manifesto in Karnataka Assembly polls to eradicate social and educational backwardness to a community (Muslims and other minorities) would not amount to an appeal in the name of religion.

Making this observation, a Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud dismissed a PIL filed by Pramod Muthalik, Rashtriya Hindu Sena chief to disqualify Congress candidates who are seeking votes in the name of religion.

In a brief order, the Bench said, “We are not inclined to interfere. Needless to say, after the election is complete from all angles, if the petitioners feel aggrieved, they can take recourse to statutory remedy as provided under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.”

Counsel Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the Congress in its election manifesto had promised many things for minorities and it would amount to seeking votes in the name of election. Rejecting this submission, Justice Chandrachud observed “referring to a community suffering from social or educational backwardness and assuring or promising steps to alleviate them is not an appeal on the ground of religion.”

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