No bar on using Kalam’s name for party: HC

September 23, 2016 12:00 am | Updated November 01, 2016 08:24 pm IST - CHENNAI:

Following the recent order of the Election Commission of India refusing to restrain anyone from using the name of former President Abdul Kalam as part of the name of a political party, the Madras High Court has ruled that its earlier injunction restraining the Abdul Kalam Vision India Party (AVIP) from using the late leader’s name/image has become infructuous.

In May, a single judge had restrained the AVIP, launched by V. Ponraj, former scientific adviser to Kalam, from using the leader’s name on a suit filed by the late President’s brother till the ECI decided on the issue.

Kalam’s brother had argued that in his lifetime the former President had steered clear of politics.

However, the ECI held that national leaders could not be said to be the exclusive right or property of any organisation and those who believe in the leader’s ideology could not be prevented from propagating the same by using their names.

According to AVIP general secretary S Kumar, the party would field candidates for the ensuing civic polls in Tamil Nadu in its own name.

Abdul Kalam Vision India Party general secretary says the party will contest in civic elections

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