PIL seeks change in names of political outfits

CHENNAI: A Public Interest Litigation petition was today filed before the Madras High Court praying for direction to AIADMK, DMK and 14 other political parties to rechristen them on the ground that the existing names were based on religion, race or caste.

Petitioner, R Kannan Govindarajulu, an ex-serviceman, submitted that the Constitution barred naming political outfits in the name of religion, race, caste etc.

He contended that he was moving the court as no action was taken on his petition sent to the Election Commission.

First Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice R K Agrawal and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, before which the petition came up, adjourned it by two weeks and directed the petitioner to implead the political parties as respondents.