Supreme Court refuses 14 opposition's plea on central agency abuse

In a huge setback for Opposition parties, the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain the petition filed by 14 political parties against abuse of central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and CBI by the central government. The plea, led by the Congress, had alleged an alarming rise in criminal cases against opposition leaders. This was done as an attempt to quell dissent, the petition said, seeking guidelines on such cases for the future.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala said general guidelines on such matters without specific criminal cases “could be dangerous.” Adding to it “Learned counsel seeks permission to withdraw the plea at this stage. The petition is accordingly dismissed as withdrawn,” the bench said as per reports. “You please come back to us when you have an individual criminal case or group of cases,”

The TMC, AAP, Shiv Sena, JDU, DMK, RJD, BRS, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), JMM, CPIM, CPI, Samajwadi Party and the National Conference were also part of the joint plea. The Opposition has accused the ruling BJP of abusing central agencies against its leaders and the issue has been a major part of the war of words between the two sides currently.

The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has scoffed at the allegation saying action against the corrupt has brought the Opposition on the same platform.

Following AAP leader Manish Sisodia’s arrest, nine opposition leaders, including several chief ministers, had written an open letter to the Prime Minister condemning such arrests as “political witch-hunts”.