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4d ago

Madras High Court Bars Future Tamil Nadu Welfare Schemes From Using Living Leaders’ Names

The government has appealed for existing 'Ungaludan Stalin'/'Nalam Kaakum Stalin' outreach programmes to be exempted from the restraint pending a hearing on August 4.

(c)PragMatrix
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Overview

  • A Madras High Court bench ordered that new or rebranded welfare schemes cannot feature the name of any living person or display DMK symbols in promotional materials, while allowing scheme operations to continue.
  • The interim order responds to a PIL by AIADMK MP C. Ve. Shanmugam claiming that the 'Ungaludan Stalin' outreach programme misuses public funds and violates Supreme Court and Election Commission guidelines.
  • Judges referenced Supreme Court rulings in the Common Cause cases and paragraph 16A of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, to deem personalization of state schemes prima facie impermissible.
  • Notices were issued to the Tamil Nadu government and the DMK for counter-affidavits, and the bench scheduled a joint hearing of this petition and a similar case for August 13.
  • On August 1, the state government filed a modification petition with an affidavit from Public Secretary Reeta Harish Thakkar seeking an August 4 hearing to exempt its running 'Ungaludan Stalin' programme and planned 'Nalam Kaakum Stalin' scheme from the naming ban.