- Petition also sought a ban on religious slogans
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the petition challenging the Election Commission’s decision to hold the West Bengal Assembly elections in eight phases, the petition also sought a ban on religious slogans.
A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde rejected the plea seeking a ban on the use of religious slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” during the election campaign in the state.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian dismissed a petition filed by advocate Manohar Lal Sharma.
“We don’t agree with you. We have read the whole case, dismissed,” the Bench said.
Sharma, in his petition, had pointed out that while the elections scheduled around the same time in two other states, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and one Union Territory, Puducherry are being held in a single phase, the elections in another state, Assam are slated to be held in 3 phases.
Thus holding elections for West Bengal alone in 8 phases, Sharma claimed, is a violation of right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution, Bar & Bench reported.
Sharma in his petition also objected to the use of the religious slogan “Jai Shri Ram” by BJP leaders Amit Shah and Shubhendu Adhikari during the campaign.
