SC slams BJP spokesperson for filing multiple public interest petitions

Warning him against using the judicial forum for political gain, the bench said : “We don’t want to encourage practice of political activist trying to use courts.”

The Supreme Court rapped Delhi BJP spokesperson Ashwini Upadhyay on Friday, for filing multiple petitions in public interest, wondering if his party was “financing” him from doing political activism in court.

The Supreme Court rapped Delhi BJP spokesperson Ashwini Upadhyay on Friday, for filing multiple petitions in public interest. (Representative image)

“Is this the job that BJP has given you? Is BJP financing you to carry campaign for party in courts,” a bench headed by chief justice TS THakur asked him Upadhyay, while dismissing his petition demanding a uniform liquor policy.

Warning him against using the judicial forum for political gain, the bench said : “We don’t want to encourage practice of political activist trying to use courts.”

“You have become a professional PIL activist and we see you everyday filing PIL. It’s your party which is in power at Centre so why don’t you approach the government for your grievances,” the Supreme Court told him.

It said if Upadhyay was the BJP spokesperson then why he was filing PIL at the drop of a hat. “Why are you doing this? You use your connection and go to your ministers get things you want. Don’t make it (filing PIL) a ritual. It brings down the credibility,” the bench said.

The court reminded him of his objection to senior advocate Kapil Sibal arguing the petitions against demonetisation. “You said he is a political person and you are yourself from the BJP.”