The Delhi High Court on Friday remarked that one cannot have an issue with the government promoting its schemes if there is no political insignia involved and there is no promotion of any political party.A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora remarked that the Prime Minister is also an elected person who is holding a constitutional post.He (PM Narendra Modi) may be someone’s political rival but if the public money is being used to make people aware of the government schemes, there cannot be any grievance, the Court said.
“If there is no political insignia, no political person or political party, you cannot have a grievance with that. The person (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) has been elected by people and is holding a constitutional post. He may be someone’s political rival but if this is being used for last mile connectivity of beneficial schemes, you cannot have a grievance with that,” the Bench said.The remark was made in a public interest litigation (PIL) against the use of public resources and civil servants for the purpose of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, a campaign to amplify the schemes of the government.The petitioners - former IAS officer EAS Sarma and former IIM Ahmedabad Dean Jagdeep S Chhokar - have also challenged the order issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that directed the Army, the Navy and the Air Force to set up selfie points with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to showcase the achievements of the Ministry.Counsel appearing for Sarma and Chhokar told the Bench today that the platforms are not being used to propagate the government's schemes alone, but political leaders are giving speeches at these yatras and referring to issues like Ram Mandir, Gujarat riots, abrogation of Article 370 etc.He said that in the name of promoting the schemes, various government departments like the Railways, University Grants Commission (UGC) and MoD are putting up 3D selfie points of PM Modi.
“Everything is political. It has nothing to do with the schemes. All these selfie points have placards of the Prime Minister and each one of these is costing ₹6.5 lakh. Hundreds of bureaucrats and army offices have been deployed...They (government ministers/politicians) are saying he (PM Modi) did this in 2002 in Gujarat," the counsel added. Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma appeared for the Central government and argued that through these yatras, the government is providing last mile connectivity to people who are still out of the government’s beneficial schemes.He referred to two notes to highlight the benefits and the rationale behind the yatras as well as the Army's efforts.The ASG said that these yatras have benefitted people in some of the most remote places. As an example, he said that lakhs of people have been screened for tuberculosis and have been provided with other benefits as well.“Selfie points being built by the Army is to inspire young women to join the armed forces and tell people about steps towards self-reliance in defence as well as schemes like Agnipath,” ASG Sharma said.
He added that the government is not promoting the achievements of only the last nine years.After considering the arguments, the Bench asked the ASG to place two notes cited by him on record along with an affidavit.The Bench also allowed the petitioners to file an additional affidavit.The case will be heard next on January 30.
TAGS: Delhi High Court PM Modi Selfie Points Non-political Promotion
