Delhi HC Issues Notice to Political Parties and ECI Over Use of INDIA Acronym

The Delhi High Court on Friday has issued notice to 26 political parties and the Election Commission of India (ECI) in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition.

The PIL seeks to restrain opposition parties from using the acronym INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) for their alliance.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula has sought responses from both the political parties and the electoral authority regarding the petition filed by activist Girish Bharadwaj, presented through advocate Vaibhav Singh.

It is to be mentioned that the petition has listed all the opposition parties as respondents in the case. The activist contends that these parties are exploiting the INDIA name for their self-interested motives, which might have a detrimental impact on the forthcoming general elections of 2024. The plea argues that this could potentially expose citizens to unwarranted violence and disrupt the country’s law and order.

The petition points out that the use of the name INDIA is proscribed under Sections 2 and 3 of The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1950.

Bharadwaj has additionally referenced statements made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. These leaders, he claims, have presented the name of their coalition as the “name of our nation and tried to show that the NDA/BJP and Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr. Modi is in conflict with our own nation”.

The plea asserts that Rahul Gandhi’s statement has sown confusion among the general public, implying that the upcoming elections will essentially be a contest between an alliance (NDA) and the country (INDIA).

The Court has been informed that the petitioner had initially submitted a representation to the Election Commission of India (ECI), however, the ECI took no action on the matter, compelling him to approach the Court.