“Thick Skin Needed in Politics”: Supreme Court to BJP as Plea Against Telangana CM Fails

The Supreme Court on Monday turned down a BJP petition against Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, making it clear that the courtroom is no place for political sparring. What began as a dispute over a fiery campaign speech during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections ended with a stern lecture from the country's highest judges to all political players.

The three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, didn't just dismiss the plea - it used the moment to send a broader signal. "We have repeatedly said - do not use this court to settle political scores. If you are a politician, you need to have a thick skin," remarked Justice BR Gavai, capturing the mood of the bench.

The controversy stemmed from Revanth Reddy's campaign claim that if the BJP secured 400 seats, it would scrap reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs. BJP leader K. Venkateshwarlu filed a complaint, leading to a magistrate ordering a case against Reddy. But the Telangana High Court quashed the matter last month, saying the remarks targeted a party, not an individual - and that Venkateshwarlu wasn't an "aggrieved person" under the law.

At the Supreme Court, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi defended Reddy, arguing that sharp words in political discourse can't be equated with defamation. "If this is defamation, then no political debate can happen," he said. The bench agreed, refusing to revive the case despite BJP's insistence.

In the end, the dismissal wasn't just a legal win for Revanth Reddy; it was a reminder from the court that democracy requires resilience - and that the judiciary cannot be turned into an arena for partisan duels.