"If you don't like a statement by a Minister will you file a plea and ask him to be removed?": Supreme Court Dismissed Plea Against Union Minister General VK Singh

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the removal of Union Minister VK Singh over alleged anti-army statements he made on February 7 has been dismissed by the Supreme Court. The statements referenced the border stand-off with China along the LAC.

While speaking to the media on February 7, a news publication quoted Mr. VK Singh as saying, "None of you come to know how many times we have transgressed as per our perception. We don’t announce it. Chinese media does not cover it… Let me assure you, if China has transgressed 10 times, we must have done it at least 50 times, as per our perception". In response, China declared that "India's transgressions" were to blame for tensions at the Line of Actual Control which is the de facto border between the two countries.

In addition to violating his ministerial oath by Mr. VK Singh, petitioner Chandrasekaran Ramaswamy claimed that his comment offered China justification for its transgressions. His statement stated that ordinary citizens are not spared for comments of such nature, which makes it unjust to accord special treatment to the former Indian Army chief.

However, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition. In the court's view, it is up to the Prime Minister to remove a minister, and asked the petitioner to focus on helping the country instead of filing such petitions.

It is noteworthy that according to the Ministry of State Road Transport and Highways, the statement of Mr. VK Singh was distorted. There are still differences in perceptions about the borders along the LAC, according to Mr. VK Singh. China's refusal to settle the border dispute is a bullying tactic, he said, stating any aggression by the People's Liberation Army would be met with "an equal or greater response" similar to the Galwan clashe. His remarks had been distorted "maliciously," he said, giving China a platform to shift the blame for its aggression to India.