SC rejects plea seeking direction to fix limit of expenses by political parties, candidates
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking a direction to fix the limit of expenses by political parties and candidates in elections, saying these are matters of legislative policy.
"Either these are legislative changes or policy matters. How can we entertain a petition like this," a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud observed.
The bench was hearing a plea filed by a Haryana-based man seeking several directions, including to calculate and fix the limit of expenses by political parties and candidates, restrict the expenditure on articles printed and posted prior to nominations and calculate expenses of rallies performed during filing of nomination.
"These are all matters of legislative policy," said the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
The plea had also sought a direction to all the high courts to decide election petitions within six months.
"These are not matters on which we can merely give directions. There is already a law...," the bench observed.
The petitioner told the bench there was no limit on expenditure by political parties.
"That is a matter of legislative change," the CJI said, adding, "We can't command Parliament that you shall enact a law on this subject".
The petitioner also referred to section 86 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which deals with trial of election petitions.
"Dismissed. These are all matters of policy," the bench said.
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Defamatory post against Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade: Case registered against Girish Mattannavar
Belthangady: A case has been registered at Dharmasthala police station against Girish Mattannavar over a complaint regarding alleged defamatory posts on social media against Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala.
The complaint was filed by Subrahmanya Prasad, a resident of Dharmasthala.
The complainant stated that Mattannavar posted content on Instagram making allegations against Dr. Heggade and allegedly affecting his reputation.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which is related to spreading false information, rumours, or alarming news, on April 18, and the investigation is in progress.
Following information about Mattannavar’s appearance at the SIT office on May 7, a police officer from Dharmasthala police station issued a notice directing him to appear at the station within a week.
