SC dismisses PIL against Mayawati for her remarks on Gandhi

The Supreme Court today dismissed a PIL seeking a direction for taking action against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi.

It also refused to lay down guidelines to ensure respect for the Father of the Nation. "Issuing guidelines to ensure respect for the Father of the Nation is not within the scope of this court," a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice B S Chauhan said.  "We agree with what you are saying," the Bench said in response to the submission made by an advocate about the greatness and honour with which Mahatma Gandhi is being reverred by citizens.    

However, the bench was not convinced that the apex court's intervention was required for initiating proceedings against the BSP chief under penal provisions for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups and causing public mischief. "You have to go to appropriate forum for this," the Bench said while dismissing the PIL filed by advocates Ravi Kant and Sukumar. They had also sought a show-cause notice to Mayawati for making allegedly derogatory remarks about Gandhi and questioning his contribution for the upliftment of Dalits.

The advocates had contended that the act by the Chief Minister amounts to violation of fundamental duty. The advocates have also filed a PIL against the construction of statues of Mayawati and her mentor Kanshi Ram in Lucknow and Noida.