The Supreme Court fixed March 22 for hearing of a PIL seeking directions to the Election Commission of India to freeze the election symbols of all major national political parties such as the Congress, BJP, CPI(M), CPI, BSP and SP for promoting their political ideologies and interests at the cost of public exchequer in gross violation of the guidelines dated March 28 and April 1 last year.

Senior counsel Anil Diwaan mentioned the petition for urgent hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices R M Lodha, B S Chauhan.

According to the petitioner, the Congress has named 100 educational institutions, six major ports and airports, 66 awards, 45 sports tournaments and trophies, 39 hospitals, 74 roads and buildings after the names of the leaders belonging to Nehru Gandhi family.

The petitioner have also alleged all the major political parties have flouted the guidelines with impunity.

Petitioner has alleged that the Mayawati government wasted public money amounting Rs 2600 crore for installation of statues of Dalit leaders, her own as well as of elephants, which is the election symbol of the BSP.

The petitioner, however, has not made any specific allegations against other political parties.

He has alleged that no political party was entitled to raise public money for promoting its political interests and it will be in the national interest that the misuse of public money, public institutions and the public welfare schemes of the government in the name of their political leaders be stopped by a Mandamus as poor citizens and the electorate feel cheated after every election.

UNI