Decide representation against SP's poll manifesto: HC tells EC

The Allahabad High Court today directed the Election Commission to expeditiously decide a representation charging the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh with making "false" claims of completion of a number of projects in its manifesto for assembly elections.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice D B Bhosle and Justice Yashwant Verma passed the order on the Public Interest Litigation filed by Prabhuti Kant, an advocate, who had alleged that the SP was trying to woo voters by "misleading" them with claims of having completed projects like Taj Expressway, Yamuna Expressway and Lucknow Metro.
The petitioner had claimed that none of these projects were complete till date and, hence, the claims of the ruling party in the state in its election manifesto were "false" and "misleading" and tantamount to violation of Section 123 (2) of the Representation of People Act.

The petitioner had also contended that immediately after the release of the party's manifesto late last month, he had submitted a representation before EC but no action was taken on the same.
The court, while directing EC to decide the representation expeditiously, disposed of the PIL.