Supreme Court Dismissed Plea Against BJP’s Use of Lotus as Party Symbol

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed plea seeking to bar the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from using the lotus as its party symbol. In a strong rebuke, the Court questioned the intent behind the petition, suggesting it was more about gaining attention than genuine concern. The petitioner argued that as India’s national flower, any political party should not monopolize the lotus, claiming it would harm national integrity. However, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Prasanna B Varale concluded that the plea lacked substance and appeared to be filed for publicity. This decision upheld a prior ruling from the Madras High Court, which had already found the plea to be without merit.

Apex Court Upholds Madras HC Ruling, Criticizes Plea for Seeking Publicity

Vipat contended that the Bharatiya Janata Party should not be eligible for the privileges granted to registered political parties under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. However, the Madras High Court upheld the trial court’s decision, stating that all arguments presented by the appellants had been thoroughly considered and dismissed without any legal error or impropriety. The civil suit was ultimately rejected due to a failure to pay the required court fees, reinforcing the court’s stance on adherence to procedural mandates.