New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a PIL seeking a direction to the Election Commission to de-recognise Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) for his controversial remarks against north Indians.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur dismissed the petition observing that in the absence of a law such a direction cannot be given to the EC. The CJI orally observed that it is upto the people not to elect leaders who indulge in hate speech.
Earlier, the petitioner told the court that the EC had filed a reply that it is not within its domain to de-recognise political parties for hate speech and only court can issue such a direction. He said political parties indulge in hate speech for coming to power but once they come to power they themselves indulge in hate speech.
Petitioner said Thackeray’s remarks were intended to cause hatred among people and if he and his party activists were not checked from indulging in unlawful activities it may lead to the situation of civil war, the petition contended.
