Interference Needed To Save Democracy: Lawyer Moves SC Seeking Inauguration Of New Parliament By President Of India

A Lawyer has filed a Writ Petition before the Apex Court seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha Secretariat to get the new Parliament building inaugurated by the President of India. The petitioner has said in the petition that the interference of the Apex Court is needed to save the democracy of the country.

The plea filed by one C.R. Jaya Sukin, an Advocate from Tamil Nadu, claims that the invites issued by the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha about inaugurating the new Parliament building has violated Indian Constitution. The Petitioner cites the Constitutional provisions regarding the powers and functions of the President of India.

"That President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu is not being invited to the inauguration of the new Parliament Building. Indian President enjoys certain powers and performs a variety of ceremonial functions. The powers of the President include Executive, Legislative, Judiciary, emergency, and military powers. That Respondents are inauguration of the new Parliament Building is not according Law", the Petition says.

The petitioner claims that as per Article 79 of the Constitution, "the President is an integral part of Parliament" and that to keep the President away from the foundation laying ceremony and now the inauguration is malpractice.

The petitioner claims that the statement issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on May 18 and the invites issued by the Secretary General of Lok Sabha about the inauguration of the new Parliament building is without following the basic principles of Natural justice and is violative of Articles 21, 79, 87 of the Indian Constitution

The petition has been filed by the petitioner in person.

Twenty opposition parties, including the Congress, have declared that they will boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building. However, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) have announced that they will participate in the event.

Home Minister Amit Shah had announced that the ceremonial sceptre or Sengol given to India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to symbolise the transfer of power in August 1947 will be installed in the new Parliament building.

Cause Title: C.R. Jaya Sukin v. Lok Sabha Secretariat & Ors [Dairy No. 22612/2023]