SC rejects PIL on derecognition of SAD(Badal group)

New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) A PIL seeking deregistration and derecognition of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal group) on the grounds that the party has been acting against secular traditions of Indian polity was today rejected by the Supreme Court.

Petitioner Balwant Singh Khera, Chairman, Malta Boat Tragedy Mission, had contended that the Akali Dal was a faction of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) whose funds were being openly used by the Akali Dal during elections.

The Badal group openly contested SGPC and Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) elections where non-Sikhs were not permitted to be the members and the Representation of the People Act did not permit a non-secular party whose roots were among the followers of a particular religion or caste.

No political party can be recognised by the Election Commission which did not adhere to the principles of socialism, secularism and democracy, Khera contended.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and D K Jain asked the petitioner ''have you gone to the Election Commission?'' The petitioner, however, contended ''Can a political party contest election purely in the name of religion?'' The court, however, told the petitioner that it could entertain individual grievance of the petitioner if any but could not entertain a petition based on vague allegations.

At this, Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner, sought the permission of the court to withdraw his petition and the permission was granted. Subsequently the petition was dismissed as withdrawn.

UNI