Delhi HC junks plea to disqualify PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pic/AFP

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a petition that had sought directions to disqualify Prime Minister Narendra Modi from contesting elections for six years for allegedly seeking votes in the name of deities, saying the plea was "thoroughly misconceived". Justice Sachin Datta said the plea was "devoid of any merits".

Petitioner Anand S Jondhale, a lawyer, had urged the court to take action against Modi for allegedly seeking votes in the name of gods and places of worship, saying this amounted to violating the model code of conduct and committing an offence under the Indian Penal Code and Representation of the People Act.

The Lok Sabha polls are currently being held in the country. The high court said the petition is thoroughly misconceived on multiple reasons, including that once the petitioner submitted a complaint to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on April 10, there was no occasion for him to invoke the extraordinary jurisdiction of this court even before the disposal of the complaint by the commission.

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