US EditionMadras HC Restricts Govt Welfare Ads Featuring Photo of Any Former CM, Name or Symbol of Political Party
TAMIL NADU, INDIA, AUG 01 – The Madras High Court's interim order bars political names and symbols in scheme publicity to prevent misuse of public funds, citing Supreme Court guidelines in a PIL filed by AIADMK MP.
- In a significant interim ruling, Madras High Court ordered Tamil Nadu to avoid naming schemes after living politicians and using their images in publicity, following a PIL by C. Ve. Shanmugam.
- During Thursday’s hearing, the bench observed that naming schemes after political figures like Ungaludan Stalin appears prima facie impermissible under the Supreme Court’s Common Cause guidelines, challenging neutrality in government programmes.
- Crucially, the Madras High Court barred the use of any living political personality’s name and the display of former Chief Ministers or DMK insignia in advertisements, clarifying schemes can still be implemented.
- In response, the court allowed the Election Commission of India to proceed independently on the petitioner’s complaint, despite pendency of the case, with DMK spokespersons questioning double standards and P. Wilson calling the petition politically motivated.
- Looking ahead, the Madras High Court will hear the case again on August 13, 2025, emphasizing that naming schemes after political figures could politicize welfare programs.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Madras High Court bars use of former CMs’ photos, party symbols in welfare schemes
The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government not to use photographs of former chief ministers, ideological leaders and insignia of political parties in the advertisements for welfare schemes, reported Bar and Bench on Saturday.A bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Sunder Mohan also barred the government from naming or rebranding schemes after living persons, according to The Indian Express.The court deli…
Tamil Nadu govt can’t name welfare schemes after living persons or use party symbols, High Court says
The Madras High Court cited previous Supreme Court rulings, reminding that while publication of a sitting Chief Minister’s photograph may be allowed under certain exceptions, “the use of photographs of ideological leaders or former Chief Ministers, prima facie, would be against the directives of the Supreme Court”.
Tamil Nadu Barred From Using Names Of Living Leaders For State Schemes
The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to refrain from naming welfare schemes after living political personalities or using photographs of former Chief Ministers or ideological...
Madras HC restricts govt welfare ads featuring photo of any former CM, name or symbol of political party
Advocate General PS Raman opposed a petition claiming it lacked clear allegations. The Madras High Court ruled that government welfare schemes cannot feature living personalities or political party insignia.
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