Delhi High Court Dismisses Petition Seeking FIR Against PM Modi for Communal Remarks
On Monday, the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition that sought the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for alleged communal remarks made during the Lok Sabha elections campaign. Justice Sachin Datta deemed the petition “misconceived” and lacking in merit.
The Court emphasized that the matter was within the jurisdiction of the Election Commission of India (ECI), which is already addressing it. Justice Datta stressed that it wasn’t the Court’s place to dictate whom the ECI should issue notices to or to assume that the ECI would not take action. He reiterated that the Court cannot oversee the ECI’s actions in detail.
The petition referred to Prime Minister Modi’s speeches in Banswara, Rajasthan, and Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, where he allegedly made divisive remarks. Despite complaints from various citizens, the petition claimed that the ECI did not act effectively. The petition also pointed out discrepancies in how the ECI handled complaints against different leaders, questioning why Prime Minister Modi was treated differently.
Advocate Nizam Pasha, representing the petitioners, argued that the ECI had taken action against other leaders but not against Modi. He questioned the inconsistency in the ECI’s approach and stressed the importance of equal treatment under the rule of law.
Advocate Suruchi Suri, representing the ECI, stated that the ECI had granted an extension to the BJP to respond to the notice and assured that action would be taken if necessary.
Ultimately, the Court dismissed the petition, affirming that any presumptions about the ECI’s actions were unfounded and that the ECI would make independent decisions.
During a previous hearing on May 10, Justice Datta had underscored the Court’s inability to micromanage the ECI, emphasizing the latter’s constitutional authority to determine violations of the model code of conduct.
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