SC quashes Madras High Court order barring use of former CMs’ photos, party symbols in scheme ads

The court also castigated the petitioner, a Member of Parliament from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), C Ve Shanmugam , for singling out the state government scheme and the chief minister without challenging similar Central and state schemes bearing the name of political leaders and slapped a cost of ₹10 lakh on him to be deposited with the state government.

The court warned of contempt of court action if the petitioner failed to comply with its order and directed the state to utilise the amount in a scheme for the benefit of underprivileged sections of society.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai said, “The launching of schemes in the name of political leaders is a phenomenon followed throughout the country….When such schemes are floated in the name of such political leaders, we do not appreciate the anxiety of the petitioner to choose only one political party and one political leader.”