In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India has overturned an order by the Madras High Court that restricted the Tamil Nadu government from using the names and photographs of current and former Chief Ministers in welfare schemes. The apex court also imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh on C. Ve. Shanmugam, an MP from the AIADMK party, for filing the plea in the Madras High Court, deeming the petition "unwarranted and an abuse of the process of law".

The Madras High Court's earlier order, issued on July 31, had restrained the DMK government from naming any new or rebranded public welfare schemes after living individuals. It also prohibited the use of portraits of former Chief Ministers, ideological leaders, or any Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) insignia, emblem, or flag in advertisements promoting such schemes. This order came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Shanmugam, who challenged the naming and promotion of the government's public outreach program titled "Ungaludan Stalin" (With You, Stalin), alleging that it violated established norms.

The Supreme Court's decision effectively allows the Tamil Nadu government to proceed with naming its schemes after Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, including the "Stalin With You" scheme. The court dismissed the opposition MP's plea as politically motivated. A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria delivered the judgment. The Supreme Court clarified that the Madras High Court's initial order stemmed from a misunderstanding and that there was no legal basis to prevent the government from using the Chief Minister's name or images in its welfare initiatives.

This verdict is a major win for the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu. The Supreme Court's ruling emphasizes that the plea against using the Chief Minister's name on welfare schemes was an unwarranted abuse of the legal process. The court's decision underscores the importance of ensuring that legal processes are not used for political maneuvering or to impede the implementation of government programs.