LI Network
Published on: December 04, 2023 at 12:59 IST
The Delhi High Court expressed prima facie approval regarding the government’s use of civil servants and defense personnel to promote its schemes.
The court found no apparent issue in the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) direction to establish selfie points at defense institutions and sainik schools to showcase achievements.
In response to a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the use of civil servants and defense personnel for government scheme promotion, the court took a favorable view of the government’s efforts.
The court particularly noted the Ministry of Defence’s initiative to set up selfie points, stating, “If Army wants to popularize it with a selfie point, I don’t think anyone can have grievance.”
Addressing the use of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photographs at these selfie points, the court remarked that it seemed to be a common practice, stating, “Isn’t this the norm? Each and every Chief Minister is putting photos [in advertisements].”
The PIL sought to quash two government orders—one from MoD directing the Army, Navy, and Air Force to set up selfie points featuring images of Prime Minister Modi and another from the Department of Personnel and Training to deploy officials as District Rath Prabharis to showcase the government’s achievements over the past nine years.
The court raised questions about the opposition to popularizing welfare schemes, asserting, “If a welfare scheme is there, should that scheme not be popularized? There are always snaps of Chief Ministers or Prime Minister in advertisements.”
The matter has been listed for January 4, 2024, with the court asking the Central government counsel to seek instructions.
The bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna found no prima facie issue and expressed support for promoting government schemes through various means.