A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha secretariat to ensure that the newly constructed Parliament building is inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu as the highest constitutional authority of the country.
The PIL, filed by Supreme Court advocate C.R. Jaya Sukin, alleged the decision that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate the building was a violation of the Constitution.
It urged the top court to “issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order or direction or any suggestion or observation… by giving direction to Respondent No. 1 (Lok Sabha secretariat) to inaugurate the new Parliament building by Hon’ble President of India".
The petitioner cited Articles 79, 85 and 87 to state the President enjoys a unique constitutional status and has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament or to dissolve the Lok Sabha. The President alone has the power to appoint the Prime Minister and other ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister and other constitutional authorities, he pointed out.
Further, the President is authorised to appoint constitutional functionaries. Every bill has to be passed by both Houses and assented to by the President before it becomes law.
“That all important decisions regarding the country are taken in the name of the Indian President... That respondents (the Lok Sabha secretariat and the ministries of home and law) have violated Article 79…. That President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu is not being invited to the inauguration of the new Parliament building,” the petition states.