New Delhi, May 16 (IANS): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a PIL filed by a BJP leader seeking directions to the Election Commission to take action and restrict the misuse of religion for electoral gains.

The court has asked the poll body to take a decision on BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay's representation against renowned actor and MNM President Kamal Haasan's recent statement calling Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, as the first Hindu terrorist of independent India.

On Tuesday, Upadhyay mentioned the petition before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A.J. Bhambhani, and sought debarring of candidates and deregistration of parties which abuse religion for political mileage during polls.

The court allowed the plea to be listed for hearing today. Upadhyay, in the petition, alleged the statement was intended to outrage religious feelings of millions of Hindus.

The petition said: "Haasan has violated the Model Code of Conduct in addition to section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act 1951. He is deliberately promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony and brotherhood, which is an offence under section 153A of the IPC."

Haasan was speaking at an election rally for his party candidate in Aravakurichi Assembly constituency where by-elections will be held on May 19.

Haasan, according to the petition, said: "The first terrorist post-India's independence is a Hindu."