Can’t force political parties to keep poll promises: SC

The Supreme Court (SC) of India on 28 September 2015 refused to entertain a PIL by advocate Mithilesh Kumar Pandey asking political parties to fulfill their pre-election promises or stay away from post-poll alliances.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu and comprising of Justice Amitava Roy said that it was not the judiciary’s job to force political parties to fulfill their pre-election promises or stay away from post-poll alliances.

The petitioner through his plea argued that the court should lay down guidelines for framing of manifestoes to stop false and illegal promises made by political parties, including regularization of illegal colonies. He termed those manifestoes as an act of cheating to voters. He also said that the post-poll alliances between political parties defeat the mandate of people.

However, the apex court said that the judiciary was not the cure for every problem in the political system and left it for better adjudication in the people's court.

The Bench asked the petitioner to show the law that says promises made by political parties are enforceable in law. Only if the promise is enforceable, you can say there is cheating. Otherwise, where is the question of cheating?

The court before dismissing the petition held that if it asks the political parties not to opt for post-poll alliance, then it will have to go for fresh elections, which means huge cost to the exchequer.

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