SC Slams AIADMK MP, Clears Stalin Scheme Use
The Supreme Court of India has quashed the Madras High Court’s interim order that banned the Tamil Nadu government from using CM MK Stalin’s name in the “Ungaludan Stalin” welfare awareness scheme.
In a sharp rebuke, the apex court imposed a ₹10 lakh cost on AIADMK MP C. Ve. Shanmugam for filing a “politically motivated” public interest litigation (PIL).
SC Comes Down Heavily On Politically Driven PIL
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai with Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria noted that the petitioner had deliberately targeted only one political party and one scheme while similar practices exist across India.
“If the petitioner was genuinely concerned about public funds being misused, he should’ve challenged all such schemes,” the court said.
“Singling out one party shows malice,” the judges added.
Time To Keep Politics Out Of Courtrooms
The court was firm in saying that political battles must be fought before the electorate, not in courts.
It described the petition as not just “misconceived” but also an abuse of legal process.
“Courts should not be used to settle political scores,” the bench observed.
₹10 Lakh Fine To Be Used For Welfare
The Supreme Court directed the AIADMK MP to deposit the ₹10 lakh fine with the Tamil Nadu Government within a week.
The amount must be used specifically for the welfare of underprivileged citizens, the court instructed.
What Is The ‘Ungaludan Stalin’ Scheme?
The scheme, launched on June 19, aims to raise awareness about various government welfare programs. It does not distribute benefits directly but informs citizens about available schemes.
Named “Ungaludan Stalin” (Stalin with You), it became controversial when challenged in court for allegedly promoting a political personality.
What Did The High Court Say?
The Madras High Court had earlier banned the use of names or images of living persons, former CMs, party symbols, or leaders in government promotions. This interim order was issued at the very first hearing date.
The bench at that time relied on the Supreme Court’s 2015 judgment in the Common Cause case.
Supreme Court Clarifies Common Cause Ruling
However, Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi, AM Singhvi, and P Wilson, representing the DMK and Tamil Nadu government, countered that the Common Cause judgment only addressed photographs, not scheme names.
They pointed out that even during the AIADMK regime, numerous schemes used the name “Amma” (former CM Jayalalithaa).
The Court agreed that the 2015 ruling has since been diluted to allow names and images of sitting constitutional functionaries like the Chief Minister and Prime Minister.
Petitioner Faced Tough Questions
The petitioner’s counsel, Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, argued that the scheme was not just an awareness campaign but an attempt to embed the CM’s name across all welfare programs.
But Chief Justice Gavai questioned whether any legal precedent barred the use of a Chief Minister’s name in such cases.
“The concern was about political glorification. But no law prohibits using the CM’s name if not promoting a political party,” the court said.
Key Points From the Judgment
- SC lifts Madras HC ban on using CM Stalin’s name in government scheme.
- ₹10 lakh fine imposed on AIADMK MP for misusing court process.
- SC criticizes selective targeting of one party’s scheme.
- Common Cause ruling clarified—no ban on scheme names after CM.
- Courts not to be used for political rivalry, SC reiterates.
Conclusion: A Victory for Legal Clarity and Welfare
This judgment sets a strong precedent. It draws a line between judicial integrity and political rivalry. The Supreme Court has made it clear that the law cannot be weaponized to target opponents. And that courts are not arenas for political vendetta.
Most importantly, it underscores that welfare schemes should focus on people, not political games.
