Paridhi Arya
Published on June 4, 2022 at 15:30 IST
The Vacation Bench of Justice B R Gavai and Justice Hima Kohli showed their serious concern regarding ‘mushroom growth’ of frivolous Public Interest Litigation which makes delay in development of bigger Public Interest.
Such frivolous PIL also consume the valuable judicial time which need to be respected as there are many genuine cases waiting to be heard by the Court. The Court stated that these frivolous PILs need to be nipped in bud.
Two PILs were dismissed by the Court, which were against Odisha government challenging the developmental work started for the benefit of devotees by the State Government in the premises of the Jagannath Puri Temple.
The Bench observed “In the recent past it is noticed that there is mushroom growth of Public Interest Litigations. However, in many of such petitions, there is no public interest involved at all. The petitions are either publicity interest litigations or personal interest litigation.”
“We highly deprecate practice of filing such frivolous petitions. They are nothing but abuse of process of law. They encroach upon a valuable judicial time which could be otherwise utilize for considering genuine issues.”
“It is high time that such so called Public Interest Litigations are nipped in the bud so that the developmental activities in the larger public interest are not stalled.”
The Court in the instant case found that PIL filed was against the public interest and the only purpose to file was so that work of the government can be delayed. The government had taken a step to provide facilities and amenities to the lacs of devotees who come to the Jagannath Temple every year.
The imposed fine of Rs. 1,00,000/- to each Petitioner which will be paid to the State of Odisha.