In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a plea seeking to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from using the lotus as its party symbol.
The petition, filed by Jayant Vipat, argued that the lotus, being India’s national flower, should not be used as a political symbol. Vipat contended that the BJP’s use of the lotus symbol was a violation of the Representation of the People Act and sought an injunction to restrain the party from using it.
The case has a long history, beginning with a civil suit filed by Vipat in 2022. He claimed that the BJP, as a political party, was not entitled to draw benefits available to registered political parties under the Representation of the People Act. Vipat’s suit was dismissed by a civil court in October 2023 on technical grounds. He then approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which also dismissed his plea. In March 2024, the Madras High Court rejected a similar plea, arguing that the lotus, being a national flower, could not be allotted to any political party.
Supreme Court’s Decision
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice PB Varale, found the petition to be without merit and suggested it was filed for publicity. The court questioned the petitioner on the relief claimed and noted that the plea seemed to be aimed at gaining fame. Consequently, the court dismissed the petition, stating that it did not warrant any judicial intervention.
Implications of the Ruling
The Supreme Court’s decision reaffirms the BJP’s right to use the lotus as its party symbol. This ruling also sets a precedent for future cases involving the use of national symbols by political parties. The court’s dismissal of the plea underscores the importance of merit in legal petitions and discourages the filing of cases for publicity.
you are in reality a just right webmaster. The site loading velocity is incredible. It seems that you are doing any unique trick. In addition, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a wonderful task on this topic!