SC Junks Plea To Have New Parliament Building Inaugurated By President Droupadi Murmu

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha Secretariat for inauguration of the new Parliament building by President Droupadi Murmu.

“What is your locus? We know why you file such petitions. We are not inclined to interfere under article 32. Be grateful we are not imposing costs,” a vacation bench, comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and PS Narasimha, said while expressing disinclination to entertain the PIL filed by Advocate CR Jaya Sukin.

The bench then dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

The petition had said the respondents — the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Union of India — are “humiliating” the president by not inviting her for the inauguration. It further stated that the parliament, consisting of the President and the two Houses, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, holds the supreme legislative authority in India and the President possesses the authority to summon and prorogue the parliament or dissolve the Lok Sabha

Citing Article 79 of the Indian Constitution, the plea contended that the President is an integral part of the parliament and hence, should not be kept away from the inauguration.

The new parliament building is slated to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.

Notably, 20 Opposition parties have decided to boycott the ceremony to protest the “sidelining” of the President.