Plea in Bombay HC seeking removal of name, image of PM Narendra Modi from PM CARES Fund website

A PIL in the Bombay High Court seeking directions to remove the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from PM CARES fund trust and from the trust’s official website.

The PIL has been filed by the member, Vikrant Chavan, of the Indian National Congress party. He also sought removal of the images of the national emblem and national flag from the official website of the trust on grounds of violation of The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and Rules, and The State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005 and Rules.

The plea specifically sought a direction to the Centre to remove the words ‘Prime Minister’ from the trust’s name – Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund.

The grounds stated by Chavan in the petition are as follows:

• The PM CARES Fund set up to extend support and relief during emergencies or calamities, purportedly receives voluntary contributions made by private entities and no allowance from the government;
• The trust does not discharge any sovereign function;
• The admitted position that the trust is neither a Central government fund nor does the collected amount go to the Consolidated Fund of India;
• It would be improper to use the name or image of the PM or the emblem or national flag considering it would violate Constitution and Emblems Act.

The Bench of Justice AA Sayed and SG Dige adjourned the matter to October 25 directed the Centre to respond to the plea before posting the case.