The Delhi High Court recently dismissed a plea seeking to disqualify Prime Minister Narendra Modi from contesting the 2024 General Elections. The plea, filed by lawyer Anand S Jondhale, alleged that the Prime Minister had violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by invoking religious sentiments during an election rally in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, on April 9, 2024.
Key Points of the Judgment
- Thoroughly Misconceived:
The single-judge bench of Justice Sachin Datta termed the plea “thoroughly misconceived” and lacking in merit. The court emphasized that the petition pre-supposed a violation of the MCC without concrete evidence to support such claims【94†source】【96†source】. - Role of the Election Commission:
The court underscored that it cannot direct the Election Commission to take a specific stance on any complaint. It noted that the petitioner had already approached the poll body, which is competent to independently review and process the complaint【94†source】【97†source】. - Allegations of Religious References:
The plea centered around PM Modi’s remarks during his speech, where he allegedly made references to Hindu and Sikh deities, which the petitioner claimed violated electoral guidelines. The court, however, found no substantive grounds to support these allegations as sufficient to warrant disqualification【94†source】【95†source】.
Background of the Allegations
The petitioner accused PM Modi of seeking votes by invoking deities, which he argued amounted to a violation of the MCC and constituted an offence under the Representation of the People Act. The specific incident mentioned involved PM Modi’s remarks about the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the alleged disrespect shown by the opposition parties towards this religious event【97†source】.
This dismissal reaffirms the judiciary’s stance on maintaining a high threshold for disqualification cases, ensuring that only well-substantiated claims can affect the electoral process.