MUBAS Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Whether a political party should be the face of the Government and influence the Government in designing its events to suit the political needs of the party, and whether, in the process of implementing such policies, the utilisation of the public exchequer without sanction under the Rules of Business can be justified, are the issues raised in this Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

(2.) Since common questions concerning the 'Nava Keralam 'New Kerala' - Citizen Response Programme' (herein after referred to as the 'Nava Keralam Programme'), implemented by the State through its Information and Public Relations Department, arise for consideration in both these Public Interest litigations, they are heard and disposed of together.

(3.) Petitioners allege that the Nava Keralam Programme, for which an amount of around 20 Crores has been earmarked for expenditure, is a political campaign of the ruling party/political front, masquerading as a Government Programme and that it had been launched with the singular objective of furthering the political interests of the ruling political party/Front utilising public funds at a time when State is in doldrums and the Legislative Assembly Elections, 2026, are on the anvil.