PIL filed against EC's order to drape statutes
LUCKNOW: Even as state government officials started draping statutes of
UP chief minister Mayawati, other Dalit leaders and elephants (BSP
symbol) on Monday, a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the
Allahabad High Court against the Election Commission (EC).
The court has admitted the petition and fixed January 11 as the date of hearing.
The PIL has been filed by an Allahabad based lawyer against EC's order to cover statues of elephants.The EC had on Saturday issued directions to cover all the statutes of elephants (the BSP's election symbol is an elephant) and that of Mayawati in Dalit memorials.
The BSP had opposed the decision on the grounds that it was not given an opportunity to present its defence. BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra had also questioned whether the EC would ban use of lotus (BJP's election symbol), cycle (SP's election symbol) and hand (Congress election symbol). He had also pointed out that the statutes of elephant could be found in every temple in the country and were in President's house and Parliament. "Will the EC cover them during the general elections?" he had questioned.
The statues of the ruling party leaders and its symbol across the state, according to the EC, may influence voters and wreck the level field in elections. The EC had also directed to cover the statutes of Congress leaders and former prime ministers later Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi.
On Monday, the EC also ordred removal of all publicity material highlighting achievements of Mayawati as chief minister from the state government websites. The order was issued following the complaints of the opposition parties which said that Mayawati had violated the election code of conduct by being using the official websites to promote herself and her party, BSP
The court has admitted the petition and fixed January 11 as the date of hearing.
The PIL has been filed by an Allahabad based lawyer against EC's order to cover statues of elephants.The EC had on Saturday issued directions to cover all the statutes of elephants (the BSP's election symbol is an elephant) and that of Mayawati in Dalit memorials.
The BSP had opposed the decision on the grounds that it was not given an opportunity to present its defence. BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra had also questioned whether the EC would ban use of lotus (BJP's election symbol), cycle (SP's election symbol) and hand (Congress election symbol). He had also pointed out that the statutes of elephant could be found in every temple in the country and were in President's house and Parliament. "Will the EC cover them during the general elections?" he had questioned.
The statues of the ruling party leaders and its symbol across the state, according to the EC, may influence voters and wreck the level field in elections. The EC had also directed to cover the statutes of Congress leaders and former prime ministers later Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi.
On Monday, the EC also ordred removal of all publicity material highlighting achievements of Mayawati as chief minister from the state government websites. The order was issued following the complaints of the opposition parties which said that Mayawati had violated the election code of conduct by being using the official websites to promote herself and her party, BSP
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