New Delhi (BW): The Delhi High Court recently dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) requesting the Union Government and Election Commission of India (ECI) to take action against politicians Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, and Akhilesh Yadav for allegedly making false and misleading statements to tarnish India’s reputation and credibility.
The PIL was filed by Surjit Singh Yadav, who identified himself as a social worker and was upset about statements made by the politicians regarding the Central Government allegedly waiving loans of Rs.15 or 16 lakh crores for a few industrialists.
The court, presided over by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, concluded that the aggrieved parties, such as the defamed industrialists, had the means to approach the court themselves and initiate legal proceedings.
The court also expressed that it was unnecessary to relax the principle of locus standi for this petition and emphasised not underestimating the intelligence of Indian voters. The court declined to intervene, stating that if people or industrialists were harmed, they would take appropriate action and that the responsibility for such matters rested with them, not the court.
The PIL also sought direction for political parties like the Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Samajwadi Party, as well as media platforms like News 24, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube to remove allegedly false and misleading statements.
