New Parliament building: SC dismisses plea seeking inauguration by President Murmu

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha secretariat for the inauguration of the new Parliament building by President Droupadi Murmu, the "first citizen of India and the head of the institution". "We know why you file such petitions, we are not inclined to entertain this," the Supreme Court bench observed. "Be grateful that we are not imposing costs on you," the bench said further. The petition by an apex court lawyer came amid a massive controversy over the scheduled inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. Some 20 opposition parties have decided to boycott the ceremony to protest the "sidelining" of the President.