Don’t drag courts into politics, SC tells BJP; defamation plea against CM Revanth rejected
A three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and Atul S Chandurkar...
By Newsmeter Network
Don’t drag courts into politics, SC tells BJP; defamation plea against CM Revanth rejected
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by the BJP’s Telangana unit seeking to restore a defamation case against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy over remarks he made during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign.
The bench bluntly cautioned political parties against dragging the apex court into electoral disputes.
Bench declines to interfere
A three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and Atul S Chandurkar, said it was ‘not inclined to interfere’ with the Telangana High Court’s order.
“We are time and again saying, don’t use this court for political battles. If you are a politician, you should have a thick skin,” the CJI remarked while dismissing the plea.
BJP’s allegations
The BJP’s state unit had complained in May 2024, claiming CM Revanth falsely suggested the party would scrap caste-based reservations if voted to power.
It argued the statement damaged the party’s reputation and violated Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, which deals with promoting enmity in connection with elections.
A Hyderabad trial court last year had found a prima facie case under defamation provisions of the (erstwhile) Indian Penal Code as well as the election law.
High Court quashes proceedings
CM Revanth challenged the trial court’s order, asserting that routine political rhetoric cannot be criminalised.
On August 1, the Telangana High Court agreed, ruling that the complainant lacked authorisation from the BJP’s national unit to pursue the case.
Political speeches demand a higher threshold for defamation claims. “Political speeches are often exaggerated. To allege that such speeches are defamatory is another exaggeration,” the court observed, striking down the trial court proceedings.
Legal battle ends
With the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the BJP’s appeal, the defamation proceedings stand closed. The ruling reinforces the judiciary’s stance that election-time rhetoric should not be routinely converted into criminal litigation.
