Amid a row over the inauguration of the new parliament building, AaPublic Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Central government to inaugurate the building by the President of India.
According to a report by LiveLaw, the petition, filed by Supreme Court lawyer CR Jaya Sukin, states that by not including the President in the inauguration ceremony, the Central government has "violated the Constitution of India".
"Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. Parliament consists of the President and the two Houses -- the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha," the petition said.
The petitioner refers to Article 79 of the Constitution which says that Parliament consists of the President and the two houses. It is pointed out that the President, the first citizen of the nation, has the power to summon and prorogue the Parliament sessions. It is the President who appoints the Prime Minister and other Ministers and all executive actions are taken in the name of the President.
The petition further argued that not inviting the President for the ceremony is a humiliation and a violation of the Constitution.
"The President is an integral part of the Parliament. Why was the President kept away from the foundation stone laying ceremony? Now the President is not invited to the inauguration ceremony. This decision of the government is not appropriate," the plea said.
In a show of unity, 19 opposition parties, including the Congress, Left and TMC, on Wednesday announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying they find no value in a new building when the soul of democracy has been sucked out.
In response, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance on Wednesday launched a sharp counterattack, slamming their stand as a "blatant affront to democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation".
(With inputs from PTI)
