Latest news with #CVeShanmugam
Mint
5 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Relief for DMK govt in Tamil Nadu: SC quashes Madras HC ban on using CM Stalin's name, photos in welfare schemes
In a major victory for the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a Madras High Court order that had barred the state government from using the names and images of current and former chief ministers in its public welfare schemes. The apex court also imposed a penalty of ₹ 10 lakh on AIADMK leader C Ve Shanmugam, calling his original petition an 'abuse of the process of law'. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai, along with Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria, observed that the plea filed against the DMK government was unwarranted. The Supreme Court said there was no legal bar preventing the use of names or photos of living persons in welfare scheme promotion, unless it violated specific statutory provisions. Calling the litigation 'frivolous', the Supreme Court set aside the July 31 order of the Madras High Court and ruled that elected governments are allowed to publicise welfare schemes, even if they include the name of the sitting Chief Minister. The Madras High Court, responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Shanmugam, had earlier directed the Tamil Nadu government not to name any welfare scheme after living individuals, including current or former chief ministers. The Madras High Court also barred the use of portraits, party symbols, or the DMK flag in promotional material. The High Court clarified that while the Tamil Nadu government could continue to roll out and implement welfare schemes, the naming and promotional content should remain neutral and devoid of political branding. The PIL had taken aim at the DMK's flagship outreach programme Ungaludan Stalin (With You, Stalin), arguing that it amounted to political self-promotion using public funds. The petitioner claimed the scheme violated norms of neutrality and misused administrative power for political mileage. The programme, which involves direct engagement between Chief Minister M K Stalin and citizens, has been one of the party's high-profile initiatives aimed at strengthening its grassroots connect. Yes — prominently. The use of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image in central welfare schemes and public programmes has long drawn both political praise and criticism. From the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to free ration distribution during the pandemic, Modi's photo has routinely appeared on posters, banners, ration bags, vaccination certificates, and promotional materials. One of the most widely debated instances was during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, where the government added PM Modi's photo and a message on every vaccination certificate issued via the CoWIN platform. Critics argued that the move politicised a public health initiative, prompting legal challenges — including one before the Kerala High Court, which ultimately declined to interfere. Opposition parties, particularly the Congress and Trinamool Congress, have accused the BJP of turning state-funded programmes into vehicles for political branding. However, the BJP has defended the practice, claiming it ensures public accountability and visibility for leadership.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SC sets aside Madras HC order asking DMK govt not to use names, photos of CM's in welfare schemes
The Supreme Court overturned a Madras High Court order that restricted the Tamil Nadu government's use of chief ministers' names and photos in welfare schemes, deeming the challenge an abuse of process. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed a Madras high court order that had restrained the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government from using names and photographs of present and former chief ministers in welfare schemes. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria also imposed a cost of Rs 10 lakh on AIADMK leader C Ve Shanmugam for filing the petition in the Madras High Court. The apex court observed that the plea challenging the use of the chief minister's name in Tamil Nadu's welfare schemes was "unwarranted" and amounted to "abuse of process of the law". You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Earlier, the Madras High Court on July 31 had restrained the Tamil Nadu government from naming any new or rebranded public welfare schemes after living persons. It had further prohibited the use of portraits of former chief ministers, ideological leaders, or any Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ( DMK ) insignia, emblem, or flag in advertisements promoting such schemes. The order was passed by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Sunder Mohan while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by AIADMK MP C Ve Shanmugam. Shanmugam had moved the High Court challenging the naming and promotion of the state's public outreach initiative titled 'Ungaludan Stalin' (With You, Stalin), arguing that it went against established norms. While passing the order, the high court had clarified that the ruling did not prevent the Tamil Nadu government from launching, implementing, or operating any welfare schemes. It had, however, stated that the restrictions would apply specifically to the 'nomenclature and promotional content associated with such schemes'.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
AIADMK seeks action against two top bureaucrats for contempt of court
CHENNAI: AIADMK, the principal opposition party, on Monday moved a contempt of court petition, seeking the Madras High Court to punish two senior bureaucrats of Tamil Nadu for launching the 'Nalam Kaakum Stalin' scheme, carrying chief minister's name, and thereby disobeying the interim orders of the court that cited Supreme Court's guidelines to restrain the use of names of living personalities in government schemes. The contempt petition was moved by AIADMK's Rajya Sabha member and former law minister C Ve Shanmugam. It was on his public interest litigation petition that the court had pronounced the interim orders on Thursday. While the contempt petition is yet to come up for hearing, the first bench of the court headed by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava on Monday adjourned the hearing of the modification petition moved by the state government on Friday regarding the interim orders issued in Shanmugam's PIL. The bench decided to adjourn the hearing after it was brought to its notice that the DMK, the fourth respondent in Shanmugam's PIL, had moved the Supreme Court on Monday with a special leave petition (SLP) against the interim orders. The apex court is expected to hear it on Wednesday. Although senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing TN government, wanted to place his arguments, irrespective of the SLP, the bench said it would be better to wait till the SC hears the SLP and adjourned the hearing to August 7 (Thursday). The Nalam Kaakum Stalin scheme, under which 1,256 camps are planned across TN to offer the public comprehensive health check-ups, was launched here on Saturday by CM M K Stalin.
NDTV
04-08-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Contempt Plea By AIADMK Against 'Stalin-Named' Scheme, DMK Approaches Top Court
Chennai: AIADMK MP and former minister C Ve Shanmugam has filed a contempt petition in the Madras High Court against the Tamil Nadu Health Secretary and the Public Department Secretary, alleging violation of a court order by continuing to use Chief Minister MK Stalin's name in a new government health outreach programme. In the run-up to the 2026 assembly elections, the state government recently launched the "Nalam Kaakkum Stalin" (Wellness Ensuring Stalin) initiative, despite a High Court interim order last week barring the use of names of living political personalities in government schemes. The order also prohibited the use of photographs of former Chief Ministers or ideological leaders in publicity material. The court, however, allowed the use of the incumbent Chief Minister's photograph, citing a Supreme Court ruling. The DMK government had earlier named two flagship schemes -Ungaludan Stalin (Stalin With You) and Nalam Kaakkum Stalin - after the Chief Minister, featuring visuals of both MK Stalin and late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi in outreach campaigns. These schemes are part of a broader public service drive with elections just eight months away. Today, the Madras High Court adjourned the hearing on the state's plea to continue using the existing scheme names to August 7, after the Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court challenging the interim order. The top court is expected to hear the case on August 6. In its plea before the High Court, the state argued that the Chief Minister is a constitutional functionary, not merely a political personality, and that the Supreme Court did not explicitly ban the use of former Chief Ministers' photographs. DMK sources point out that during J Jayalalithaa's government, the AIADMK had named schemes after "Amma", the name she was fondly called by her cadre. After her death, her picture, they say, was part of AIADMK's publicity material. The BJP at the centre too has a programme named NaMo, an acronym for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The contempt plea and the state's challenge are now poised for crucial hearings next week, potentially setting a precedent for the naming and promotion of government schemes in Tamil Nadu.
