Supreme Court Overturns Ban on Naming Welfare Schemes After Living Politicians

The Supreme Court has annulled a Madras High Court decision that prevented the Tamil Nadu government from using names and images of living and former chief ministers in welfare scheme promotions. AIADMK leader C Ve Shanmugam's plea was penalized with a Rs 10 lakh fine for being an abuse of the legal process.

The Supreme Court, in a significant judgment on Wednesday, overturned a Madras High Court ruling that restricted the Tamil Nadu government from employing the names and photographs of current and past chief ministers in promoting welfare schemes.

A bench, led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria, levied a Rs 10 lakh fine on AIADMK leader C Ve Shanmugam, describing his plea in the High Court as a misuse of legal procedures.

This top court's verdict declared the challenge against naming welfare initiatives after CMs as unnecessary, emphasizing it as an exploitation of the judicial process, thus allowing the DMK government to proceed with its promotional strategies.

(With inputs from agencies.)