The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed as withdrawn, a writ petition filed by Syed Waseem Rizvi alias Jitendra Tyagi, seeking ban on political parties using names and symbols with religious connotations.
While rejecting the plea, the Bench of Justice M.R. Shah and Justice Ahsanadduin Amanullah granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the High Court for relief in the matter. The top court of the country said that it has not expressed anything on merits in favour of any party.
Rizvi, former chairman of Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Board of Waqfs, had recently renounced Islam and converted to Hinduism. He also changed his name to Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi.
The petition moved by Tyagi further sought strict enforcement of certain provisions of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951, which prohibit luring of voters and promoting feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of citizens on the ground of religion.
Appearing for All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Senior Advocate and former Attorney General K.K. Venugopal urged the top court of the country to dismiss the petition on the ground that a copy of a similar petition filed before the Delhi High Court has been placed before the Apex Court.
Justice Shah responded by saying that the petitioner was ready to withdraw the plea and gave him permission for the same.
Earlier on January 31, the Supreme Court had directed the petitioner to be secular and not go against any particular religion.
The Bench of Justice M.R. Shah and Justice B.V. Nagarathna issued the instructions after Senior Advocate Dushayant Dave and lawyer Haris Beeran, both representing IUML, pointed out that only Muslim parties were being impleaded in the case.
The lawyers further raised strong objections to the petition naming only Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and All India Majlis-Elttehandul Muslimeen (AIMM).