Not a political arena: Supreme Court raps petitioner over Himanta Sarma gun video

The Supreme Court strongly criticised a petitioner for directly approaching it instead of the High Court over allegations against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. The bench highlighted concerns over courts being used as political battlegrounds ahead of elections and urged respect for constitutional procedures.

The Supreme Court on Monday strongly reprimanded the petitioner for approaching it directly -- instead of going to High Court -- seeking action against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his anti-'Miya Muslim' remarks and a controversial gun video.

Rejecting the petition at the Supreme Court, the bench headed by the Chief Justice observed that the court was increasingly being turned into a "political battleground", and urged parties to uphold constitutional morality in the run-up to elections.

"What stops you from going to the High Court? Unless you say the High Court has also become a political battleground?" Chief Justice Surya Kant asked.

When senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the petitioners, argued that the matter involved fundamental constitutional questions and sought a special probe against the Chief Minister, the court responded: "So you’re saying the HC can’t set up an SIT?".

The bench noted that petitions of this nature often reach the Supreme Court whenever elections approach in different states, calling it an unfortunate trend.

"Unfortunately, whenever elections start coming, there are cases. We request all parties that self-restraint must be there. We expect all to act as per constitutional morality," the Chief Justice said.