'Everyone does naarebaazi in democracy but ... ': Why Supreme Court told Chandigarh admin to 'argue on merits' in Bhagwant Mann case
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday told the Chandigarh administration to "argue on merits" in its plea linked to Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann , saying it was otherwise "not inclined to interfere" in the matter.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant made the observation while hearing the Chandigarh administration's appeal against a Punjab and Haryana high court order quashing an FIR against Mann — then a Lok Sabha MP — and other AAP leaders over a 2020 protest against a hike in electricity tariffs.
"Everyone does 'naarebaazi' (sloganeering) in a democracy. Now that he (Mann) is holding some responsible position, we understand that he will understand his responsibility also," the CJI said.
"If you are going to argue on merits, we will hear you. Otherwise, we are not inclined to interfere," the CJI told Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the Chandigarh administration, after he sought time to put the judicial records in order.
Raju submitted that the Chandigarh administration was facing certain technical objections in three separate petitions challenging different high court orders and sought time to address the issue.
The high court had earlier held that no prima facie case was made out against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and that the ingredients of the offences invoked under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were absent.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant made the observation while hearing the Chandigarh administration's appeal against a Punjab and Haryana high court order quashing an FIR against Mann — then a Lok Sabha MP — and other AAP leaders over a 2020 protest against a hike in electricity tariffs.
"Everyone does 'naarebaazi' (sloganeering) in a democracy. Now that he (Mann) is holding some responsible position, we understand that he will understand his responsibility also," the CJI said.
"If you are going to argue on merits, we will hear you. Otherwise, we are not inclined to interfere," the CJI told Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the Chandigarh administration, after he sought time to put the judicial records in order.
Raju submitted that the Chandigarh administration was facing certain technical objections in three separate petitions challenging different high court orders and sought time to address the issue.
The high court had earlier held that no prima facie case was made out against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and that the ingredients of the offences invoked under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were absent.
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