HC seeks response of Owaisi's AIMIM on plea to deregister it as political party

The Delhi High Court today sought response of Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM on a plea seeking to quash its registration as a political party, alleging that it raises issues concerning only Muslims and seeks votes in the name of religion.

Justice Siddharth Mridul also sought response of the Centre and the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the petition filed by the president of Shiv Sena in Telangana, seeking to set aside the June 19, 2014 order of the poll panel granting recognition to the All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Musalimeen (AIMIM) as a state party.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on December 3.

Advocates Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain, who appeared for petitioner Tirupati Narasimha Murari, argued that the party has violated the principle of secularism and allegedly abused Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

The plea was opposed by the AIMIM's counsel who said there was no material facts and the allegations made in the plea were not correct.

The court remarked that some of the allegations made in the plea were "scandalous" and were neither desirous nor permissible.

"I will expunge them. Court is not the platform for such things. These are scandalous allegations. It is not allowed. You take away merit of the petition by making such allegations," the judge said agreeing with the party's counsel and asking him to point out other objectionable portions in the plea.

When the petitioner's counsel said that a political party cannot be registered on communal agenda, the court said Muslims getting together for meetings cannot be qualified as "communal agenda".

On the resistance of the party's counsel to issuance of notice on the plea, the judge said, "I am not putting on hold your recognition. I am just asking for your response."