SC says petitions filed to use top court as a platform to ‘embarrass’ States ahead of polls
The Hindu
Supreme Court criticizes petitions aimed at embarrassing State governments ahead of elections, emphasizing political battles shouldn't involve judicial intervention.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday (February 20, 2026) deprecated the tendency of filing petitions to use the Supreme Court as a platform to “embarrass” State governments ahead of crucial Assembly elections.
The Chief Justice, heading a three-judge Bench, said petitions filed by private parties and NGOs are designed to put State governments in a tight spot. In the process, the petitioners drag the Supreme Court into the political pell-mell.
Chief Justice Kant said the petitions raise warning bells in the court, as their timings, usually when the clock is ticking towards an election, are “usually suspect”.
The court was hearing a petition filed by an NGO, Human Rights Foundation, on the installation of PVC flexboards in the State of Kerala, where elections are due in 2026.
“The problem is people have started fighting political battles in the Supreme Court, whether it is Kerala or ‘A’ State or ‘B’ State. All this is to embarrass the State governments. To create some difficult situations for them,” Chief Justice Kant observed.
The CJI said such petitions were meant as an “impediment to election campaigning”.
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