Supreme Court: Political Leaders Cannot Claim Higher Immunity Than Ordinary Citizens
Opposition Parties Withdraw Plea Alleging Misuse of Central Agencies After SC Refuses to Intervene
05-04-2023 : The Supreme Court rejects plea by opposition parties alleging misuse of central agencies for targeting opposition leaders A petition filed by 14 political parties, including the Congress, alleging that the central investigating agencies are being misused by the government to target opposition leaders, was rejected by the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
The division bench, headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice J.B. Pardiwala, stated that the court cannot issue general directions without a factual context and that it can only intervene in individual criminal cases. The bench also noted that political leaders cannot claim a higher immunity than ordinary citizens, and therefore, a special set of guidelines cannot be issued for them.
The plea alleged an increase in the use of coercive criminal processes against opposition political leaders and citizens exercising their right to dissent. After the Supreme Court’s observations, the opposition parties withdrew their petition.
The parties that were part of the joint move are the DMK, RJD, BRS, Trinamool Congress, AAP, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), JMM, JD(U), CPI(M), CPI, Samajwadi Party, and the J-K National Conference.
