‘Devoid Of Any Merit’: SC Dismisses Plea To Declare 2019 Congress Manifesto Unfair

The Supreme Court recently dismissed a petition seeking to declare the Congress manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections unfair.

A bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice JB Pardiwala remarked that the petition was “misconceived” and “devoid of any merit”.

As a result, the petition was dismissed.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by Adarsh Kumar Agrawal and Dr Seema Jain seeking directions to declare the Congress manifesto “unfair and contrary to the model code of conduct” and to take appropriate legal action against the party.

The Congress Election Manifesto was released in advance of the 2019 national elections.

The Congress pledged in its manifesto to establish a Court of Appeal to hear appeals from High Court judgments and orders. According to the manifesto, the Court of Appeal would sit in multiple benches of three judges each at six locations.

The party also promised practical solutions to problems plaguing the legal system, as well as repealing Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and making defamation a civil offence.

It also promised to remove Section 124A of the IPC, which defines sedition and “has become redundant due to subsequent laws.”

The manifesto also mentioned the need to amend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in order to “strike a balance between the powers of security forces and citizens’ human rights, and to remove immunity for enforced disappearance, sexual violence, and torture.”

It also emphasized the need for prison reforms as well as the recognition of the rights of those facing criminal charges.