The Supreme Court will examine the DMK’s challenge regarding the use of Stalin’s name and picture in government programs

Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), is challenging a Madras High Court order imposing restrictions on naming government welfare schemes after any living personality. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the petition, represented by senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and P. Wilson. The petition argues that the naming of schemes after prominent political figures falls within the executive and policy making prerogative of an elected government. The High Court order operates as a “de facto injunction” on the elected government in Tamil Nadu from formulating and implementing public welfare schemes.

The petition argues that the ‘Ungaludan Stalin’ initiative is not a publicity vehicle for political mileage, but a citizen-centric outreach programme. It argues that the naming of welfare schemes falls within the executive and policy making prerogative of an elected State government. The petition also points out that the Content Regulation Committee on Government Advertising (CCRGA) dealt only with advertising content, not with the nomenclature of welfare schemes