SC dismisses PIL against Mayawati for her remarks on Gandhi

New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday
dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (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 Bahujan Samaj Party (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. PTI RKS
SDE