Last Updated on August 11, 2024 by News Desk
The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Manjesh Kumar Yadav. The plea sought a directive compelling the Uttar Pradesh government to clarify that it operates independently and is not influenced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The PIL referred to a statement made by Keshav Prasad Maurya, the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, during a BJP state working committee meeting. Maurya had remarked that the “party/organisation (referring to the BJP) is bigger than the government.” Yadav argued that this statement contradicts the constitutional principles of good governance, where no political party should have the authority to dictate terms to the Council of Ministers.
The petition emphasized that citizens have a fundamental right to be governed by a democratic government that operates independently, free from any overriding influence of the BJP. Yadav, as a lawyer, asserted that it was his duty to advocate for the public’s interests, particularly for those who might not fully understand the implications of the Deputy Chief Minister’s statement.
However, the court, comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Vikas Budhwar, found no merit in the plea. The bench concluded that the statement made by Maurya occurred in a party forum and did not constitute grounds for questioning the state’s governance. The court noted that remarks made by ministers outside of their official capacities should not be the basis for allegations against the Council of Ministers or for demanding a formal endorsement or contradiction from the state government.
In dismissing the PIL, the court underscored that the apprehensions raised by the petitioner were unfounded, as the statement in question did not provide sufficient evidence of a lack of good governance. The case was dismissed, affirming the independence of the state government from the political interests of the BJP.
Written by — Athi Venkatesh AVD
