The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a public interest litigation seeking a ban on paid news and asked the petitioner to approach the authority concerned – the Election Commission of India.

A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, R Banumathi and Navin Sinha was hearing the petition filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashwini Upadhyay, reported Live Law. “Is this the only forum for you to approach?” Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked. “Everybody who has any grievance in the world cannot come to SC [Supreme Court] under Article 32.”

Upadhyay had sought a direction to the government to take appropriate steps to implement the recommendations of the Election Commission of India and Law Commission of India on paid news and political advertisements. Upadhyay also sought a direction from the Supreme Court to direct and declare that the act of indulging in the publication of paid news as a corrupt practice under section 123 (4) of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951.