Supreme Court rejects PIL against poll promises

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court had refused to entertain a PIL in 2015 by advocate Mithilesh Kumar Pandey, asking political parties to fulfill their pre-election promises or stay away from post-poll alliances.

The petitioner had argued that the court had the power to lay down guidelines for framing manifestoes to stop false and illegal promises made by political parties, including regularisation of illegal colonies. The court had asked the petitioner whether there was any provision in law which made promises made in the manifesto enforceable against a political party.

The SC made it clear that the judiciary was not the cure for every problem in the political system and left it for better adjudication in the people's court. Dismissing the petition, the top court had observed that if it asked political parties not to opt for post-poll alliances, then it would have to go for fresh elections, which meant huge cost to the exchequer.