| Whether installation of statues of elephants amounts to putting up BSP’s election symbol |
Three-judge bench of the Supreme Court gives three months’ time to poll panel
Court is hearing a PIL accusing Uttar Pradesh Government of misusing public money
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Election Commission to decide whether the installation of statues of elephants by the Mayawati Government in Lucknow and Noida near the national Capital would amount to installation of BSP’s election symbol.
A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice Deepak Verma and Justice B.S. Chauhan granted three months time to the Commission to dispose of the petition filed by advocates Ravi Kant and Sukumar questioning the installation of elephants being the party symbol with tax payers money.
Senior counsel for BSP S.C. Mishra, who is also the party General Secretary submitted: “We have given reply to the Election Commission that the elephants installed in parks are not the election symbol of the party but only a welcome symbol. Even in the North Block and South Block, Lok Sabha and Rashtrapathi Bhavan, there are elephants statues. Statues of elephants are also found in temples and the distinction is quite clear.” He said the State Legislature had accounted for every rupee spent on statues and erection of elephants.
Commission’s Counsel Meenakshi Arora, said the Commission was not in favour of pre-judging the issue and wanted to wait till the Supreme Court decided the matter.
The Bench was hearing a PIL filed by the two advocates accusing the Uttar Pradesh Government of misusing public money for installation of statues of the Dalit leaders, including Ms. Mayawati and the party symbol elephant at various places in the State.”
Mr. Kant submitted that 60 statues of elephants were being installed by Uttar Pradesh Government at a cost of Rs 52.20 crore at public places by utilising State funds. Senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for the State raised the maintainability of the PIL.
However, the bench said the question could be considered after the Election Commission decided the issued.
In the petition, it was alleged that the State had shown utter disregard to the constitutional mandate while deciding to spent huge money on installing a very large number of statues.
According to the petitioners, the funds need to be used for the welfare and development of people and particularly of the weaker sections of the society.
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