Madras High Court 
Chennai

Court restrains use of Kalam’s name

The Madras High Court has restrained the use of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam as part of any party’s name or for any other political activity pending final decision to be taken by the Election Commission of India and the Chief Election Commissioner of Tamil Nadu.

migrator

Chennai

Justice S Vimala before whom the civil suit moved by Mohammed Muthu Meera Maraikayar, the brother of late president Abdul Kalam, came up for hearing said, “This court is of the considered view that a prima facie case is made out and the balance of convenience lies in favour of national interest to grant an order of injunction.”

Ponraj, who worked as secretary to Abdul Kalam along with S Kumar and R Thirusenduran had formed a political party on February 28, called ‘Abdul Kalam Vision India Party’. Objecting to this, Kalam’s brother Maraikayar filed a suit claiming that the political party had been started only with a view to cash in on the love and faith which the people had reposed in Kalam.

Alleging that the political party also had a flag containing his brother’s image, he said even during his presidency his brother was apolitical, and the party formed in his brother’s name would influence ordinary people to believe that it had his endorsement.

Justice Vimala in her order also observed, “In fact, right from Dr Rajendra Prasad to Dr Prathiba Patil none of the presidents had permitted their names to be used in the name of any political party nor had they associated themselves with any political party after their term of presidency. Therefore, the formation of a political party with the name of Dr A P J Kalam is in breach of such glorious tradition left behind by the former presidents of the country.”

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