In a recent development, the Delhi High Court has rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action against Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly making false and misleading statements against the government, damaging the credibility of India.The PIL, filed by Surjit Singh Yadav, had urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to take action against the political leaders for their remarks regarding the government’s handling of loans to industrialists, claiming nearly ₹16 lakh crores in waivers.However, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora dismissed the petition, asserting that the wisdom of Indian voters should not be underestimated. The Court emphasized that voters are capable of discerning truth from falsehood and know who is leading and who is misleading.The bench further remarked that individuals or entities aggrieved by such statements have the means to approach the court independently, without the need for a third-party PIL. It underscored the importance of the principle of locus standi and declined to entertain the petition, noting that no orders were warranted in the matter.Surjit Singh Yadav, in his petition, contended that the statements by the opposition leaders had tarnished India’s image and undermined the government’s credibility, potentially impacting foreign investment and tourism. He alleged that the politicians deliberately misrepresented the concept of loan write-offs as loan waivers, leading to confusion among the public.Yadav also expressed personal disappointment, claiming that his perception of the Central Government had been negatively influenced by the statements made by the political figures.However, the High Court deemed the petition unsubstantiated and closed the case, emphasizing that political leaders’ statements cannot be policed by the judiciary and that the Indian electorate possesses the discernment to evaluate such claims.Advocate Suruchi Suri appeared on behalf of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the proceedings.