The Andhra Pradesh high court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the display of Jana Sena Party president and deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan’s photographs in the government offices.
A high court bench, which heard arguments over a petition challenging the display of Pawan Kalyan in some government offices, wondered whether there is any prohibition that prevents displaying the Deputy CM’s photo.
The bench observed that the petition was politically motivated and filed with mala fide intent.
The court stressed that while citizens can approach it for genuine public welfare, courts will only entertain petitions that truly serve the public interest, not politically driven ones.
The bench also cautioned against attempts to use courts as platforms for political agendas.
The PIL had been filed by retired railway employee Y Kondala Rao, who argued that Pawan Kalyan’s photos were being displayed in offices without statutory approval.
He sought directions to remove them until the government frames a clear policy on the display of leaders’ portraits.
However, after hearing the matter, the division bench headed by Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Cheemalapati Ravi dismissed the petition.