‘Don’t use Court to fight your political battles’: SC slams ED

Sending a strong message to investigative agencies and litigants dragging politically sensitive matters to court, the Supreme Court on Monday cautioned against using the judiciary as a theatre for political warfare.

The observation by the Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai came in three cases where one of the party is a political person.

The top court dismissed the plea filed by the ED challenging the Karnataka High Court’s decision to set aside the probe against B.M. Parvathi, the wife of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, in connection with the alleged irregularities with regard to illegal land allotments by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

The bench of Gavai and K. Vinod Chandran refused to entertain ED’s plea and told Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, “Unfortunately, I have some experience in Maharashtra. Please do not force us to say something. Otherwise, we have to say something very harsh about the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Let political battles be fought among the electorate. Why are you being used for it?”

"Okay, we will withdraw. But let it not be treated as a precedent," ASG Raju said on behalf of the ED.

The Court then proceeded to reject the plea and said that there was no error in the reasoning adopted by the High Court single judge who had quashed the summons.

The MUDA scam revolves around the alleged irregularities in the allotment of compensatory sites. At the heart of the controversy is a 3.2-acre parcel of land that was gifted to Parvathi by her brother Mallikarjunaswamy in 2010.

"We do not find any error in reasoning adopted in approach of single judge. In peculiar facts and circumstances, we dismiss it. We should thank you ASG for saving some harsh comments," the Court said.

In another case involving West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee where a petition has been filed seeking contempt against her in the teachers recruitment scam case, senior Advocate Maninder Singh said, “We have sought consent from the Attorney General. If the matter can be kept on board later.”

At this, the CJI said, “Are you so sure you will get the consent? We should dismiss it now right. Don't politicise such cases. Political battles fight outside the court.”

In a separate case involving BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, the CJI bench reiterated, “Fight your political battles before electorate and not in courts.”

India