Poll panel rejects plea to register party calling itself ‘police-army’

Poll panel rejects plea to register party calling itself ‘police-army’
Case concludes in HC on Wednesday with slight alteration to party name


On July 30, 2009, the Election Commission of India (EC) received a new party registration request from its members in Bengaluru. New political parties are registered by the EC under the Representation of the People Act. Members requested the party to be registered as 'Aarakshaka Sena.'
EC rejected the name. In a letter addressed to the party dated November 13, 2009, the EC said, “The literal meaning of the word 'aarakshaka' used in the name of your association is 'police.'
Thus, the meaning of 'Aarakshaka Sena' would be 'Police Army.' The name would therefore be misleading. Therefore you are advised to choose some other name for your association so as to avoid the possibility of any confusion in the minds of the general public.” The people who started this political party, president V Shashidhar, vice president N Raju Gowda, general secretary KR Poornima, treasurer Anantharaj and joint secretary Ganesh Gowda had no option but to approach the High Court. President of the party, V Shashidhar, claimed before the HC that between 1980 and 1990, he had worked with the Bengaluru City Intelligence, Central Bureau of Investigation and the Police Control Room. In 1998, Shashidhar had started another political association and named it Aarakshaka Maha Sabha and the EC had not objected to it.

The case was pending for the last six years. However, in the meantime, the party continued operations under the name - 'Rakshaka Sena' - till the case was disposed of. The case came up for hearing before the HC on Wednesday.

The EC, in its objections to the petition, further stated that the name requested by the political party closely resembled the 'Army Police/Military Police' which are wings of the Indian Army that police the cantonment, army establishments and prisoners of war. Therefore, the name 'Aarakshaka Sena' would create confusion. The commission also cited the case of Indian National Congress Vs Election Commission where it was held that the commission had the powers to suggest change in names of political parties if they seemed to create confusion.


The case was disposed of on Thursday after it was agreed that the changed name Rakshaka Sena would be used instead of Aarakshaka Sena. The party has been using the name for the last six years and there was now no need for the originally requested name.
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