Supreme Court turns down plea to prevent misuse of Veer Savarkar's name
"We cannot entertain writs like this..only for fundamental rights violation...", CJI led bench said yesterday;
The Supreme Court of India yesterday rejected a public interest litigation petition filed to prevent the misuse of Veer Savarkar's name.
Instant PIL filed by one Pankaj Phadnis sought the inclusion of the Hindutwa ideologist in the schedule of the 1950 Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper) Use Act.
Seeking to establish certain facts about VD Savarkar, the petitioner told a CJI Gavai led bench on Tuesday, "I am 65 years old, have been researching him for last 30 years. I also seek directions to Lok Sabha Speaker to include his name in schedule to the emblem..".
"We cannot entertain writs like this..only for fundamental right violation...", CJI Gavai said while dismissing the petition.
The plea also sought directions against Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, for his remarks against Savarkar.
Recently, Supreme Court stayed the operation of the Allahabad High Court’s order refusing to quash the summons issued to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case concerning his remarks against freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
High Court while refusing relief to Gandhi had remarked that Gandhi had an alternative remedy of criminal revision under Section 397/399 of the CrPC and could approach the Sessions Judge for relief. In view of this, the court disposed of his plea.
The defamation case stems from allegations that Gandhi, during a press conference in Maharashtra in 2022, stated that Savarkar was a “servant of the British” and received a pension from them.