Parliament Building Row: PIL Filed In SC seeking Inauguration By President

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday seeking a direction that the new Parliament building should be inaugurated by the President of India.

According to the plea, the Lok Sabha Secretariat violated the Constitution by not inviting the President to the inauguration of the new parliament building.

"Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. Parliament consists of the President and the two Houses the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The President has the power to summon and prorogue either House. The President has the power to dissolve the Parliament or the Lok Sabha," the PIL stated.

"The President is an integral part of the Parliament. Why was the President kept away from the foundation stone laying ceremony? Now the President is not invited to the inauguration ceremony. This decision of the government is not appropriate," the plea stated.

As many as 20 Opposition parties, including the Congress, TMC, and AAP announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.

"Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response," the opposition said in a joint statement.

"When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building," it added.