BJP Moves SC Against Calcutta HC Order Prohibiting Derogatory Advertisements About TMC

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday approached the Supreme Court (SC) against the Calcutta High Court order restraining it from publishing any kind of derogatory advertisements against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) which violated the model code of conduct during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a vacation bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal.

The BJP has challenged the May 22 Calcutta High Court order that refused to interfere with a single-judge verdict directing the party not to publish any advertisement violating the Model Code of Conduct during the Lok Sabha election process.

"Kindly have it on Monday (May 27)," the lawyer, mentioning on behalf of the BJP, requested the bench, adding that the High Court has restrained the BJP from issuing advertisements during the Lok Sabha polls till June 4, the day the election process ends..

"We will see," the bench said.

The division bench of the High Court had refused to interfere with a single-judge order in the matter while observing that a "Laxman Rekha should be adhered to.

It had said there should not be any personal attack on the part of any political party.

The division bench had emphasised that it was imperative that all political parties follow healthy electoral practices, as the ultimate victim of misleading electoral campaigns was the voter.

The BJP in its appeal before the division bench had claimed that the single judge passed the order without giving it any hearing.

(ANI)