NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to consider BJP‘s plea challenging Calcutta high court order prohibiting the party from publishing advertisements allegedly violating the model code.
Justices J K Maheshwari and K V Viswanathan, who were part of a vacation bench, refused to intervene in the high court’s order.
“We cannot allow furthering of this acrimony between BJP and TMC.Such advertisements are not in interest of voters and would only degenerate the debate. Don’t precipitate the issue. Remember political rivals are not enemies. BJP was allowed to withdraw appeal,” the top court said.
“Prima facie, the advertisement is disparaging,” the bench said.
P S Patwalia, a senior advocate representing the BJP, requested permission to withdraw the matter after the bench indicated its reluctance to consider it.
On May 22, a division bench of the high court had stated that it was not inclined to entertain the appeal against the interim order passed by the single-judge bench.
The single-judge bench, on May 20, had prohibited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from publishing advertisements that violated the MCC until June 4, the day the Lok Sabha poll results are scheduled to be announced.
The court had also restrained the BJP from publishing the advertisements mentioned by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, in its petition alleging unverified claims against it and its workers.
Justices J K Maheshwari and K V Viswanathan, who were part of a vacation bench, refused to intervene in the high court’s order.
“We cannot allow furthering of this acrimony between BJP and TMC.Such advertisements are not in interest of voters and would only degenerate the debate. Don’t precipitate the issue. Remember political rivals are not enemies. BJP was allowed to withdraw appeal,” the top court said.
“Prima facie, the advertisement is disparaging,” the bench said.
P S Patwalia, a senior advocate representing the BJP, requested permission to withdraw the matter after the bench indicated its reluctance to consider it.
On May 22, a division bench of the high court had stated that it was not inclined to entertain the appeal against the interim order passed by the single-judge bench.
The single-judge bench, on May 20, had prohibited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from publishing advertisements that violated the MCC until June 4, the day the Lok Sabha poll results are scheduled to be announced.
The court had also restrained the BJP from publishing the advertisements mentioned by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, in its petition alleging unverified claims against it and its workers.