Karnataka High Court rejects plea to refrain media, PIB from using 'Modi Govt', 'BS Yediyurappa Govt' to refer to Union, State governments

The Karnataka High Court on Monday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) petition raising concerns against press releases issued by Press Information Bureau (PIB) and media, which referred to the Government of India as 'Modi Government' and the Karnataka State government as 'Yediyurappa's Government'..A Division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum said that no writ can be issued against media with regard to how it chooses to describe the government. ."As far as description of government by media is concerned it is not possible to issue any writ. However, the petitioner is free to make a representation containing his grievances about PIB, referring to the Government of India, as the Modi Government. If such a representation is made the concerned authority will decide it in accordance with law," the Court said..The petitioner submitted that under the Indian democratic set up, no government can be referred to by the name of the head of the government."Can anybody call Central government as Modi government, is it permissible under the Constitution of India," the petitioner queried during the hearing. .The petition filed in this regard stated that the person occupying the post of Prime/Chief Minister is only the representative of all the citizens and he/she does not own the government.."As meant by the preamble of our constitution, the governments at the State are the government of each and every citizen of such respective states and the person seated at the Chief Ministers post is the representative of all such citizens and it never means that he is or her own government. In the same way, the government at the centre is the government of each and every citizen of our country and the person seated at the Prime Minister's post is the representative of all such citizens and it never means that it is his or her own government.".Among many prayers raised in the petition, the Bench only considered the following three: Direct the respondents to come up with an ordinance, which will see that addressing any government by adding any person's name before it shall stand as an offence. To take all necessary measures to see that there will be no incidents in future that the press, ministers and other executives address the governments by the names of any person leading them.Correct all government documents which has addressed the government by the respective Chief Ministers or Prime Minister..In response to the prayer for ordinance, the Court remarked, ."A writ cannot be issued directing legislature to legislate in a particular manner.".No other relief was granted by the Bench which disposed of the petition. .[Read Petition]