SC says ignore if you don't like it, junks PIL against Congress Toolkit

New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Monday turned down a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the alleged Congress Toolkit case.

The petitioner also sought the registration of the Indian National Congress (INC) to be suspended if the allegations against them on "anti-national acts" are found true.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah stated that if the petitioner does not like the toolkit, "then do not look, ignore it... this is a propaganda of a political party".

The court asked the petitioner, advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha, how could a petition under Article 32 be entertained by the court against political propaganda?

Jha also contended that even the use of the term "Indian variant" for the Coronavirus mutant was a matter of propaganda. Singapore, he said, has taken objection to the use of terms like "Singapore variant".

"India is a democracy, you know?" Justice Chandrachud responded, questioning if a court can ever control the various forms of political propaganda.

The bench stated that a criminal probe is already pending in the 'toolkit' case, saying the petitioner ought to avail remedies other than Article 32.

The apex court noted that directions could not be issued under Article 32, as a general, umbrella petition could not be maintained under it.(UNI)