The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition challenging the photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi affixed on COVID-19 vaccination certificates. The court imposed a fine of Rs 1 Lakh on the petitioner, which is to be paid to the Kerala Legal Services Authority within six weeks.
"The petition seems to be filed with political motives and a publicity motivated petition. Therefore, it deserves to be dismissed with a heavy cost," the Kerala High Court said while dismissing the petition.
The court said thousands of convicted people are in jails for criminal cases and are waiting for their appeal hearings, adding, "In such a situation, such frivolous petitions must be dismissed with a heavy cost."
The court criticised the petitioner for wasting judicial time, and asked, "Why are you ashamed of our Prime Minister?"
"There is a general trend in a section of citizens that political leaders are all corrupt people and they cannot be believed. I think, from this concept, these types of arguments are coming into the mind of the petitioner. But can anyone generalise like that? What is wrong with politicians? Since a small percentage of politicians are having a bad history, all politicians need not be ignored," a single judge bench of Justice PV Kunhikrishnan said.
There are excellent political leaders who have made great initiatives for the welfare of the country, calling them builders of our nation with innovative ideas, Justice Kunhikrishnan said.
"The Prime Minister of India is not a person who entered parliament by breaking the roof of the building. He came to power because of the mandate of the people. Indian democracy is being praised by the world. The Prime Minister is elected because he has got people's mandate," the judge said.
"Once election is over and a majority of people gave a mandate to a political party, which leads to the election of the Prime Minister, he is not the leader of that political party but a leader of the country. In the next general election, they can make use of it and remove him with people's mandate. But once a Prime Minister is elected as per the Constitution, he is the Hon'ble Prime Minister of our country and that post should be the pride of every citizen, whether the Prime Minister is X or Y," Justice Kunhikrishnan said.
The petition was submitted by Right to Information Activist Peter Myaliparampil.
Veterinarian Can Meet Monkey He Nursed To Health: Madras High Court Vet Surgeon Files Petition Seeking Custody Of Rescued Monkey Why Is Sadhguru Encouraging Women To Live Like Hermits, Asks Madras High Court Dhaka, Islamabad Inch Closer With Historic Sea Link. How It Impacts India Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's Brother Anmol Bishnoi Arrested In US: Sources Supreme Court Asks About Delhi Construction Ban. Lawyer's Reply Stuns Judge Autopsy Of 5 Bodies Of Missing 6 From Manipur Done, 6th Body Found In Assam Excessive Mobile Use Linked to Depression In Teens: AIIMS Bhopal Study Maharashtra Ex Minister Anil Deshmukh Injured After Stones Thrown At Car Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.