Supreme Court Dismisses Plea to Deregister AIMIM. The petition alleged seeking votes on the basis of religion. The court stated that protecting the interests of minorities is not against the constitution.
Politics: The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking the derecognition of Asaduddin Owaisi's party, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). The petition was filed by Tirupati Narasimha Murari, alleging that AIMIM seeks votes on the basis of religion, which is against the spirit of secularism of the Constitution.
Petitioner's Allegations and Arguments
The petitioner argued that AIMIM only talks about promoting the interests of a particular religion, i.e., Muslims, and prioritizes the protection of that same community in its constitution. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain argued in court that this is against the Representation of the People Act and the fundamental principles of the Indian Constitution.
Court's Stance and Comments
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, made it clear that it would not hear the petition. The court stated that the Constitution itself provides protection to minorities and that a party working for the interests of minorities cannot be considered anti-constitutional. The court also said that the petitioner could file a new writ petition on broader issues if he wished.
Earlier High Court Decision Upheld
The Delhi High Court had earlier dismissed this petition. The High Court had held that AIMIM had declared in its party documents that it is loyal to the Indian Constitution and adheres to the principles of secularism. The Supreme Court also upheld this decision of the High Court and refused to interfere with it.
Legitimacy of Political Parties and the Constitution
The court also clarified that a political party cannot be declared unconstitutional merely on the basis that it prioritizes the issues of a particular community. As long as the party complies with the Indian Constitution and the guidelines of the Election Commission, its registration remains valid.
