Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam v. vs C. Ve. Shanmugam 2025 INSC 976 - Schemes In Name Of Political Leaders

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Schemes -The launching of schemes in the name of political leaders is a phenomenon which is followed throughout the Country - SC sets aside Madras HC interim order which held that while launching and operating Government Welfare Schemes through various advertisements, the names of any living personality, photograph of any former Chief Minister/ideological leaders or party insignia/emblem/flag of appellant (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) shall not be included.

Court and Politics -The political battles should be fought before the electorate- The Courts should not be used to settle the political scores between the rival political parties. 

Case Info

Case Name and Neutral Citation

  • Case Name: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam v. Thiru. C. Ve. Shanmugam
  • Neutral Citation: 2025 INSC 976

Coram (Judges)

  • B.R. Gavai, CJI
  • K. Vinod Chandran, J.
  • N.V. Anjaria, J.

Judgment Date

  • Date: 6 August 2025

Caselaws and Citations Referred


The judgment refers to the following Supreme Court cases (the “Common Cause” series and others):

  1. Common Cause v. Union of India (Common Cause I)
    • Citation: (2014) 6 SCC 552
  2. Common Cause v. Union of India (Common Cause II)
    • Citation: (2015) 7 SCC 1
  3. State of Karnataka v. Common Cause and Others (Common Cause III)
    • Citation: (2016) 13 SCC 639
  4. Centre for Public Interest Litigation v. Kewal Kumar Sharma and Others (Common Cause IV)
    • Citation: (2017) 16 SCC 715

Statutes / Laws Referred

  • Constitution of India
    • Article 226 (Power of High Courts to issue certain writs)
  • Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968
    • Clause 16A (relating to suspension or withdrawal of recognition of a recognized political party for failure to observe Model Code of Conduct or lawful directions of the Election Commission)
  • Model Code of Conduct (as referenced in the context of the Election Commission’s powers)

Suggested Readings: