Rajasthan High Court: A Division Bench comprising of Pradeep Nandrajog, CJ. and G R Moolchandani, J., disposed of writ petitions against the misuse of public money for political agendas.
A PIL was filed to spouse a public cause claiming the misuse of public money by the respondent in order to cater their political motives during the Gaurav Yatra i.e direct contact with the voters by means of road-shows during which the Hon’ble Chief Minister would address public meetings for which tent, sound system and stage would be provided by the Public Works Department.
The respondents contended that whenever the Chief Minister travels (official/personal) protocol and security arrangements were to be borne by the State and thus it cannot be given the colour of expenditure incurred towards a political rally and additionally taking advantage of the presence of the Chief Minister, the respondent was organizing exhibitions to educate the general mass regarding social welfare schemes of the respondent.
Taking into consideration Common Cause v. Union of India, (2014) 6 SCC 552 and Common Cause v. Union of India, W.P (Civil) No.13 of 2003, order dated 13-05-2015 wherein it was held that, “Under the garb of communicating with the people, undue political advantage and mileage was sought to be achieved by personifying individuals and crediting them as being responsible for various Government achievements”; the High Court concluded by saying that, so intermingled are the State-sponsored d State-financed programmes with the Gaurav Yatra that it would be impossible to segregate one from the other. It is trite that the impact of an act was to be understood from the viewpoint of a mythical common man because to him if during the Gaurav Yatra, the Chief Minister inaugurates public functions, the understanding would be the glorification of the political party and not of the respondent.
It was declared by the Court that henceforth no public functions sponsored and financed by the state funds would be held during Gaurav Yatra. [Sawai Singh v. State of Rajasthan, 2018 SCC OnLine Raj 1746, order dated 05-09-2018]
