Supreme Court Overturns Madras High Court Ruling on TN Ads Featuring Leaders

The Supreme Court quashed a Madras High Court order that barred Tamil Nadu government from using current and past leaders' names and images in welfare scheme ads. The AIADMK MP who filed the plea was fined Rs 10 lakh for singling out TN schemes. The court upheld broader practices in political advertising.

The Supreme Court has annulled a recent Madras High Court directive preventing the DMK-led Tamil Nadu administration from featuring names and photographs of current and former Chief Ministers in state welfare scheme advertisements.

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, along with Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria, imposed a punitive fine of Rs 10 lakh on AIADMK MP C Ve Shanmugam, the initial petitioner in the High Court. The court recommended this amount be allocated to welfare initiatives for the underprivileged in Tamil Nadu.

The apex court dismissed the pending writ petition, criticising MPs for using judicial avenues to settle political scores. Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and P Wilson argued that similar practices exist nationwide, urging more comprehensive scrutiny rather than targeted challenges. The previous High Court rule restricted the use of living individuals' names and images in government promotional activities.

(With inputs from agencies.)