Don't use court for political battles: Supreme Court slams BJP for defamation case against CM Revanth Reddy

The Supreme Court on Monday upheld Telangana High Court's decision to quash a defamation case filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Telangana unit against State Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy over his alleged defamatory statements against the national party during the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice Atul S Chandurkar also cautioned the political party against using courts for political battles.

The Bench further said that a politician should be thick skinned to bear criticism.

"We have been time and again saying that don’t use the Court for political battles. Dismissed. If you are a politician you should have a strong skill to bear all these things," the Court said it dismissed the plea challenging the High Court decision.

BJP Telangana through its General Secretary had filed the defamation case alleging that Reddy connived with Congress party "to develop a fake and dubious political narrative" that the BJP will end reservations.

The trial court in August 2024 issued notice to Reddy, holding that a prima facie case was made against him. The Congress leader then moved the High Court which allowed his plea and quashed the proceedings last month.

Justice K Lakshman in the ruling on August 1 said that Reddy in the speech had alluded to the national unit of the BJP and no reference was made to its Telangana unit.

"It is not in dispute that Bharatiya Janata Party (Telangana) represented by its State General Secretary, Mr. Kasam Venkateshwarlu, has filed the complaint in its independent capacity. However, as the alleged defamatory speech was directed towards the national unit or the Bharatiya Janata Party, the complainant herein is not directly defamed or aggrieved," the single judge said.

Even if this Court were to accept that the complainant is a part of the national unit of the BJP and may be treated as a member of the party, the complaint is not maintainable for the lack of authorisation, the High Court added.

This led to the appeal before the apex court.

Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar represented BJP Telangana.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Reddy.