Madras High Court Bars Use Of Living Leaders' Names In Government Schemes
The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government that while launching and operating welfare schemes through various advertisements, the name of any living personality, photograph of any former Chief Minister/ideological leaders or party insignia/emblem/flag shall not be included.
The first bench comprising Chief Justice M M Shrivatsava and Justice Sunder Mohan passed the interim order on Thursday on a petition filed by AIADMK MP C.Ve.Shanmugam and advocate Iniyan.
In his petition, Shanmugam sought to restrain the state government from introducing/rebranding any scheme in the name of any living personality pending disposal of his Writ Petition.
He also sought a direction to the Election Commission of India and the Committee on Content Regulation in Government Advertising to take necessary action against the DMK under Paragraph 16A of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 and consequently forbear the state government from using the name "Stalin" in relation to the activities of the scheme emanating from G.O. (Ms) No. 390, Public (Mudhalvarin Mugavari) Department, dated 19.06.2025 and thus render justice.
In its order, the bench made it clear that it has not passed any order against launching, implementation or operation of any welfare scheme of the government.
The bench said on prima facie considerations, it finds that the prayer for the interim relief has been made on the apprehension that the state is proceeding to launch many welfare schemes on the same line as the advertisement under challenge in this petition.
The bench said the Supreme court has issued successive directives from time to time regulating the content of government advertisements. In a clarificatory order passed in a review, the Supreme Court in the case of Karnataka Vs Common Cause and others permitted certain exceptions to the directive issued in the case of Common Cause Vs Union of India.
As per the said order, publication of the photograph of the incumbent Chief Minister was permissible. The use of photographs of ideological leaders or former Chief Minister, prima facie, would be against the directives of the Supreme Court, the bench added.
The bench said it would not be permissible to mention the name of the living political personality in the nomenclature of the government scheme. Moreover, using the name of any ruling political party, its insignia/logo/emblem/flag also appears to be prima facie against the directives of the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India, the bench added.
The bench said pendency of this petition shall not come in the way of the Election Commission of India or the authorities in initiating any proceeding on the basis of the complaint made by the petitioner.
The bench posted to August 13, further hearing of the case.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
11 minutes ago
- Indian Express
After Supreme Court censure, UP Govt says, Banke Bihari Temple Ordinance for ‘better facilities, administration'
The Uttar Pradesh Government Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that the Ordinance to set up a trust for the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan was only for the better administration of the shrine, and that it 'never intended nor intends to interfere with any of the religious rights of any of the parties.' Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj informed a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi that the Ordinance will soon be placed in the UP Assembly for ratification. The bench was hearing petitions challenging the Ordinance, and the May 15 order of the SC allowing the state government to use the temple funds for buying land around it for a proposed corridor project. On Monday, the apex court questioned the 'tearing hurry' to bring the Ordinance, and the process which led to the May 15 order. The May 15 order had come on an interlocutory application filed by the state in a matter pertaining to the administration and safety of temples in the Braj region. During the hearing, the court said it intended to ask the petitioners to approach the Allahabad High Court challenging the Ordinance and that, in the interim, it will put in place a committee headed by a retired district or HC judge for its administration. Nataraj, while explaining how the Ordinance came about, said Tuesday, '…as a matter of fact, there was a PIL before the Allahabad HC…and the court issued some directions … The state never intended nor intends to interfere with any of the religious rights of any of the parties. It's only with regard to secular activity, that is, for better administration of the temple, that the Ordinance has been issued.' 'Like Ayodhya and Kashi, the government wants to develop this particular temple. It wants to infuse funds for the development of the infrastructure.' The law officer said the Banke Bihari Temple has a 'history', and around 20,000 to 30,000 devotees visit every day, and 2 to 3 lakh during the weekends. 'We require better facilities, better administration. We also have to prevent mismanagement of funds. These are all the different considerations that weighed on the mind of the government.' Appearing for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said there is no allegation of mismanagement at any stage. To that, Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj said, 'Mismanagement means everybody is managing'. Justice Kant said, 'The local administration will have to be involved. That is the only way to get these things done.' 'We have no problem,' Sibal said, adding that there should be a notification that 25,000 people will be allowed for morning darshan and 25,000 in the evening so that rush can be controlled. Justice Kant pointed out that it will be very difficult to do so given that people visit from across the country. The court adjourned the hearing till Friday to enable the parties to recommend names for the committee it intends to put in place for administering the shrine.
Economic Times
11 minutes ago
- Economic Times
INDIA bloc reschedules EC protest to August 11 after Shibu Soren's death
The Opposition march to the Election Commission of India is now on August 11. This rescheduling happened after the death of Shibu Soren. INDIA bloc leaders will still meet for dinner on August 7 at Rahul Gandhi's residence. Opposition parties are protesting the Special Intensive Revision in Bihar. They fear it will disenfranchise voters. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Opposition's march to the Election Commission of India headquarters against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar has been rescheduled to August 11, a source said on march, earlier scheduled to be held on August 8, was rescheduled after the death of former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren The schedule of the dinner meeting of the INDIA bloc leaders remains the same, and will be held on the evening of August 7 at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi 's new residence - 5, Sunehri Bagh known as Guruji, Shibu Soren died at a private hospital in Delhi on Opposition leaders are visiting Ranchi on Tuesday to pay their last respects to the leader credited with leading the agitation for the formation of the state of his death, a protest that the Congress was to hold in Bengaluru on Tuesday was postponed to August 8. That protest is to be led by Rahul Congress is protesting against what it calls large-scale manipulation of electoral rolls in Bengaluru's Mahadevapura constituency in the 2023 Assembly a meeting of the INDIA bloc parties on Tuesday morning, Opposition leaders agreed that SIR remains the key issue for the Monsoon Session, and they will continue protests inside, as well as outside, the House, pressing for a debate on the parties have warned that the exercise may lead to disenfranchisement of many, and have called it "vote-bandi" and "vote-chori" (vote theft).
New Indian Express
21 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
UCC on fast track in Gujarat: Report due soon, BJP eyes pre-local poll push
AHMEDABAD: In a politically significant move, the Gujarat government has accelerated efforts to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the State. A high-level committee led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai met with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi in Gandhinagar on August 5, signalling fast-track action on the draft law. The committee, tasked with assessing the feasibility and framework of a Common Civil Code for Gujarat, is now in its final phase, with Desai confirming that the report will be ready within a month, ruling out the need for any extension. Speculation is rife that the UCC could be notified ahead of the upcoming municipal corporation elections, giving the BJP government a potential ideological edge in the urban polls. A crucial meeting was held in Gandhinagar today between UCC Committee Chairperson Justice (Retd) Ranjana Desai and committee members with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi. Speaking after the meeting, Justice Desai said, 'We met the Governor on August 4 and the Chief Minister on August 5 in a formal interaction. While the exact date for submitting the report is yet to be fixed, it is likely to be submitted this month. As of now, there seems to be no need for an extension.'
