DC issues notice on ‘INDIA’ acronym use

New Delhi

The Delhi High Court in the case of Girish Bharadwaj v. Union of India & Ors has issued notice on the public interest litigation against the use of the acronym I.N.D.I.A., the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, by a newly formed alliance of 26 opposition political parties.

The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Amit Mahajan sought a response from the Union Government through the Ministries of Home Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, the Election Commission of India, and the 26 political parties. The counsel for Bharadwaj submitted that he is aggrieved by the non-observance and lack of action taken on his representation to the Election Commission of India on July 19 against the 26 political parties forming the new alliance. The petitioner stated that until the date of the election, the Commission of India did not take any action to prevent the respondent political parties from using the acronym I.N.D.I.A for their political alliance. Subsequently, the petitioner was left with no other option but to file the Writ Petition. The plea also seeks directions for the political parties to use the acronym I.N.D.I.A. and calls on the Election Commission of India and the Union Government to take necessary action. The petitioner claims that the parties named the alliance I.N.D.I.A. to gain undue advantages in the 2024 general elections. The court was told that this practice was aimed at attracting sympathy and votes, potentially leading to political violence. Bharadwaj also argued that using the acronym I.N.D.I.A, an essential part of the national emblem, for any professional, commercial, or political purpose amounts to a violation of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, and relevant Rules. The plea further states that the actions of these political parties may adversely affect the peaceful, transparent, and fair casting of votes in the 2024 general election, exposing citizens to unwarranted violence and affecting law and order.The court listed the matter for further consideration on October 21, 2023.