The Supreme Court of India on Monday allowed the withdrawal of a petition seeking the ban of political parties which use names and symbols with religious connotations.
Earlier, senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the Indian Union Muslim Legaue, argued that the petitioner who is a Hindutva cadre, was selectively impleading parties with Muslim names.
“The appearing counsel seeks permission to withdraw the present petition with the liberty to approach the high court. Writ petition stands dismissed as withdrawn, with the above liberty. We have not expressed anything on merits in favour of any party,” the top court said, according to Live Law report.
A bench of Justices MR Shah and Ahsanadduin Amanullah was hearing a writ petition filed by Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi. The plea sought not only a ban of political parties which use names and symbols with religious connotations, but also the strict enforcement of certain provisions of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951 which prohibits luring of voters and promoting feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of citizens on the ground of religion.
The petitioner had impleaded Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
Senior advocate and former attorney-general KK Venugopal, appearing for All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) argued, the petition must be dismissed.
He also alleged that the petitioner was adopting a ‘selective approach.‘
Senior lawyer Dushyant Dave, appearing for the IUML, argued that the petitioner was selectively impleading certain parties.
He told the bench, “The petitioner is being selective here. Why is the petitioner targeting only the IUML when the Supreme Court wanted the names of ‘parties’ that he wanted to implead? What about Shiv Sena, Shiromani Akali Dal?”
