“President is the First Citizen of India,” opposition files a plea in Supreme Court against inauguration of new Parliament Building by PM Modi

Today, a Public Interest Litigation was filed before the Supreme Court of India seeking directions to the Lok Sabha Secretariat to have the new parliament building inaugurated by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. The inauguration was set to occur on May 28, 2023, by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. The plea was filed by Advocate CR Jaya Sukin which stated that the invites issued by the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha for the inauguration function of the new building of the Parliament were in violation of the Indian Constitution. The plea pointed out that “That President is the First Citizen of India this regard and head of the institution of parliament…That all important decisions regarding the country are taken in the name of the Indian President.” 

Total 19 opposition parties said that they are boycotting the inauguration. In this context, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut stated that the President is the head of the Parliament and the Narendra Modi government was ignoring her by not inviting her to the inauguration function. He added, “All opposition leaders are boycotting the event as the government has not invited the president, an adivasi woman.” Moreover, the parties boycotting the inauguration mentioned that “Prime Minister Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response.”

The plea also contended that, as per Article 79 of the Indian Constitution the President is an integral part of the parliament and should not be kept away from the inauguration. Following this, the petitioner prayed, “Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate Writ or Order or Direction or any suggestion or observation or particularly the nature of Writ, by giving direction to the Respondent No. 1 to inaugurate the new Parliament building by Hon’ble President of India.”