The Supreme Court on Monday disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the installation of the National Emblem atop the main dome of its building, stating that the issue will be considered on the administrative side rather than through judicial proceedings.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, was hearing the plea filed by a Varanasi-based petitioner, Badarvada Venugopal. The petition sought directions to display the State Emblem of India prominently on the apex court’s dome.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice noted that a new Supreme Court building is currently under construction and indicated that the proposal could be evaluated in that context. He advised the petitioner to raise such concerns administratively instead of approaching the court through litigation.
“This issue should be addressed on the administrative side. You may write to us instead of filing a petition,” the Chief Justice remarked, while assuring that the matter would be looked into.
The petitioner informed the bench that he had earlier written to the Chief Justice’s office in May 2025 and received a response in November 2025 stating that the Supreme Court uses its own emblem. In response, the Chief Justice clarified that the earlier communication may have been issued prior to the commencement of his tenure and assured reconsideration.
Dismissing the plea, the bench directed the Secretary General of the Supreme Court to place the matter before the competent authority for appropriate consideration.
The court refrained from issuing any judicial directions, reiterating that the matter falls within the administrative domain.