SC quashes Madras HC order asking MK Stalin-led DMK govt not to use names, photos of CM in welfare schemes

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday (August 6) set aside an interim order of the Madras High Court prohibiting the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government from using the names and photographs of serving and former chief ministers in welfare schemes.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria, while setting aside the interim order, also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on AIADMK leader C.Ve Shanmugam, who had moved the High Court, saying the plea was not only "misconceived in law" but also an "abuse of the process of law."

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The apex court order came on pleas moved by the DMK as well as the state government of Tamil Nadu challenging the High Court order.

The apex court, which withdrew the petition pending before the High Court and dismissed it with a fine of Rs 10 lakh, questioned the conduct of the AIADMK leader for only singling out the DMK government when schemes in the names of political leaders is followed across the country.

“The planting of schemes in the name of political leaders is a phenomenon which is followed across the country. When such schemes are floated in the name of all leaders of political parties, we do not appreciate the anxiety of the petitioner (AIADMK MP) to choose only one political party and one political leader. If the petitioner was so concerned about the misuse of political funds, the petitioner could have made a challenge to all such schemes. However, singling out only one political leader shows the intentions of the petitioner," the apex court said.

The AIADMK leader had moved the High Court challenging the naming and promotion of DMK-led state government’s public outreach programme named ‘Ungaludan Stalin' (With You, Stalin), alleging that it violated established norms.

High Court, in an interim order passed on July 31, restrained the state government of Tamil Nadu from using names of present and former chief ministers in welfare schemes.

“We are inclined to pass an interim order to the effect that while launching and operating government welfare schemes through various advertisements, the name of any living personality, photograph of any former Chief Minister/ideological leaders or party insignia/emblem/flag of Respondent number 4 (DMK) shall not be included,” the High Court said in its interim order.