Full Judgment Text
$~43.
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ Date of Decision: 21.09.2023
% W.P.(C) 12464/2023 and CM APPL. 49165/2023
DR AJAY KUMAR SACHDEV ..... Petitioner
Through: Mr. Avadh Bihari Kaushik &
Mr.Prateek Goyal, Advocates.
versus
GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS. ..... Respondents
Through: Mr. Santosh Kumar Tripathi,
Standing Counsel with Ms. Prashansa
Sharma, Mr. Kartik Sharma &
Mr.Rishabh Srivastava, Advocates for
respondents No.1, 2 & 3/ GNCTD.
Mr. Sanjay Poddar, Senior Advocate
with Mr. Siddharth Panda &
Mr.Govind Kumar, Advocates and
Mr. Manoj Kumar, Senior Manager
(HR), for respondents No.4 & 5/
ILBS.
CORAM:
HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA
SATISH CHANDRA SHARMA, CJ. (ORAL)
1. The petitioner before this Court has filed the present petition as a
Public Interest Litigation (‘ PIL ’) impugning the appointment of Respondent
No.5/ Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin (‘ Dr. Sarin’ ) as Chancellor and the extension
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of Dr. Sarin’s tenure as Director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary
Sciences (the ‘ ILBS ’) –a deemed-to-be-university.
2. The Petitioner submits that he is a law abiding and watchful citizen of
India holding degrees of MBBS, MS, PHD in G.I. Surgery, and is one of the
most renowned surgical gastroenterologists in the country.
3. The facts of the case reveal that the Petitioner had applied for the
position of Professor (Surgical Hepatology) at the ILBS in 2017, and his
candidature was rejected upon the recommendation of Dr. Sarin. Aggrieved
by the rejection of his candidature, the Petitioner preferred W.P.(C.) No.
5737/2021 before this Court. The learned Single Judge, in judgment dated
March 29, 2023, ruled in favor of the Petitioner. However, this decision has
been challenged in LPA No. 298/2023, which is presently awaiting
adjudication. In the midst of these proceedings, the petitioner has initiated
the current PIL, asserting that the appointment of Dr. Sarin as the Chancellor
of ILBS is in violation of the statutory provisions governing this matter,
namely the Bye-Laws of ILBS Society (the ‘ Bye-Laws ’) and the Rules of
ILBS Deemed-to-be University, New Delhi (the ‘ Rules ’).
4. The petitioner's argument revolves around the eligibility criteria for
appointment of Chancellor at ILBS. Specifically, the petitioner contends that
no individual who has exceeded the age of 70 years is eligible for this
position and as Dr. Sarin is more than 71 years of age, he is not eligible to be
appointed as Chancellor.
5. At the outset, Learned Senior Counsel for Respondent No. 4/ILBS
and Dr. Sarin has drawn the attention of this Court towards Rules 42 & 43 of
the Rules which are pertinent for the present issue. The same read as under:
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“ 42. Chancellor
Chancellor: The ILBS Deemed-to-be-University shall have a
Chancellor who shall, when present, preside over the
convocations of the ILBS Deemed-to-be-University but shall not
be the Chief Executive Officer.
The Chancellor shall be appointed by the sponsoring Society
i.e. the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences and shall hold
office for a period of 5 years and shall be eligible for one more
term.
Where power is conferred upon the Chancellor to nominate
persons to authorities, he/she shall, to the extent necessary,
nominate persons to represent the various interests for the
furtherance of the objectives of the Institutions deemed to be
university.
Expl: if a person holds the post for a term less than five years
then also it shall be treated as a term for this purpose.
Till such time, a full time Chancellor of ILBS Deemed-to-be-
University is appointed or in absence of the Chancellor,
Chairman, ILBS shall discharge additional function as
Chancellor of the ILBS Deemed to be University.
43. Vice-Chancellor
i. The Vice Chancellor shall be a person of the highest
level of competence, integrity, morals and institutional
commitment. He/she shall be a distinguished academician, with
a minimum of ten years of experience as Professor in a
University system or ten years of experience in an equivalent
position in a reputed research and/or academic administrative
organization.
The Vice - Chancellor of the ILBS Deemed-to-be-university
shall be appointed by the Administrator on the
recommendations of the Governing Council of ILBS. For the
purpose, a panel of three (3) names shall be provided by the
Governing Council
ii. The Vice-Chancellor shall hold office for a term of 5
years. He shall be eligible for a second term, provided that in
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no case, shall he hold office beyond the age of 70 years.
Provided, that notwithstanding the expiry of the period of 5
years, he/she may continue in office for not more than six
months or till his/her successor is appointed and the latter
assumes office, whichever, is earlier.
iii. In case of the office of the Vice-Chancellor becoming
vacant due to death, resignation or otherwise and in case of
his/her absence due to illness or any other cause, in his/her
absence, the Pro-Vice Chancellor and if both are not available,
Director/ Senior Professor, as decided by Administrator shall
perform the duties of the Vice -Chancellor until a new Vice-
Chancellor is appointed, or the existing Vice-Chancellor
resumes duties, as the case may be.
iv. The terms and conditions of the appointment of Vice-
Chancellor including benefits and perquisites, which shall not
be less than that of Director, ILBS, shall be fixed by the
Governing Council with the concurrence of the State
Government.”
(emphasis supplied)
6. This Court has carefully gone through the Rules governing the field.
For the post of Vice-Chancellor, there is certainly an age limit prescribed,
i.e., 70 years; and beyond the age of 70 years, no person can hold the office
of Vice-Chancellor. However, for the post of Chancellor, no upper age limit
has been prescribed by the Rules.
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7. The order dated 19 August, 2022, appointing Dr. Sarin as Chancellor
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w.e.f. 20 August, 2022, is on record as Annexure P-7 and reveals that Dr.
Sarin was appointed as in terms of Bye-laws 4(iv) and 14(j) read with Rule
42 of the Rules and Regulation 10.12.1(ii) of the UGC (Institutions Deemed
to be Universities) Regulations, 2019.
8. The Bye-laws inter alia deals with appointment of Chancellor and in
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that regard, Bye-law 14 reads as under:
“ 14. Functions and Powers of the Governing Council:
1. The Governing Council shall be the principal executive
authority of the Institute, and shall have the power to review
action of the Scientific Advisory Committee, Finance
Committee and all other Committees and shall exercise all
powers of the Institute not otherwise provided for by the Rules:
It shall:
a. Generally carry out and pursue the objectives of the
Institute, as set forth in the Memorandum of its Association.
b. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of
the foregoing provisions, it shall have the powers, subject to the
provisions of these Rules and the bye-laws framed by it to;
i. Consider the annual and supplementary budget
reports placed before it by the Director from time to time,
and pass them with such modifications as the Governing
Council may think fit;
ii. Create and abolish posts;
iii. Appoint the Director, Professors, Professor-
Emeritus, various faculty members, consultants,
residents, scientists, scientific technical, administrative
and other officers and staff of the Institute, fix their
remuneration and define their duties and terms of
employment;
iv. Consider and decide the recommendations of the
Board of Management of ILBS Deemed-to-be-University.
v. Allow utilization of the services of the faculty and
other administrative and support staff recruited by the
ILBS Society by the ILBS Deemed-to-be-University
vi. Enter into arrangements with the Govt. of India,
State and local Govt., other public or private
organizations or individuals, overseas universities,
institutions and agencies for securing and accepting
grants-in-aid, endowments, donations or gifts to the
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Institute, on mutually agreed terms and conditions,
provided that such terms and conditions, if any, shall not
be contrary to, inconsistent or in conflict with the
objectives of the Institute; provided, further that for any
such arrangement with foreign and/or international
agencies, organization/corporate bodies, the approval of
the Government of India shall be obtained;
vii. Take over, acquire by purchase, grants, gifts,
exchange, lease or hire or otherwise from Government of
India, State and local Governments and other public or
private bodies or individuals, Institutions, libraries,
laboratories, immovable properties. endowments or other
funds and facilities together with any attendant
obligations and engagements not inconsistent with the
objectives of the Institute; provided that for any such
activity involving a foreign and/or international agency
or organization. the approval of the Government of India
shall be obtained.
viii. Appoint Committees and sub-committees such as
Finance Committee, Scientific Advisory Committee,
Committees for Building and Purchases, with external
domain expertise for such purposes and with such
powers and for such periods and on such terms as it may
deem fit, and dissolve/ discontinue any of them.
ix. Delegate such administrative and financial powers
as it may think proper to the Chairman and the Director,
as may be considered essential for achieving the
objectives of the Institute;
x. Frame, amend or repeal bye-laws, for the proper
and efficient administration and management of the
affairs of the Institute and in particular, to provide for
the following matters:-
1. preparation and sanction of budget estimates,
expenditure, enter into and execution of contracts,
investment of the funds of the Institute, sale or
alteration of such investments and maintenance of
accounts and their audit;
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2. Lay down procedure for recruitment of officers
and establishment in the service of the Institute.
3. Lay down terms and tenures of appointments,
emoluments, allowances, rules of discipline and
other conditions of service of the establishment of
the Institute.
4. Set out terms and conditions governing the
grant of scholarships, fellowships and grant-in-aid
for research schemes and projects not inconsistent
with the objectives of the Institute.
5. Set out such other matters as may be necessary
for the administration of the affairs and funds of
the Institute,
c. Co-opt from time to time as its member, eminent
clinician, scientist distinguished persons of repute as it deems
desirable in the interest of the Institute.
d. Consider and pass the resolutions on the annual reports
and the financial estimates and audit report on such accounts;
e. Undertake such steps as are required for full autonomy
or establish corporate structure based on a sound economic
policy:
f. Give directions on specific matters.
g. Approve and adopt the amendments to the Rules and
Regulations of the Institute.
h. Conduct periodical review and monitoring of the
activities of the Institute and take remedial measures as deemed
fit to meet the aims and objectives of the Institute.
i. Recommend the broad policies and programmes of the
Institute and suggest measures for the improvement and the
development of the Institute.
j. Appoint a Chancellor to the ILBS Deemed to be
University who shall be an eminent educationist or a
distinguished public figure who shall neither be a member of
the Society nor a close relative of the Chairman of the society;
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k. Nominate such number of representatives/ nominees to
the aforesaid Board of Management and other
Authorities/bodies/ committees of the ILBS Deemed to be
University, from time to time, as may be prescribed by the
relevant Laws/ Rules/ Regulations, applicable as on date;
l. To consider and decide the recommendations of the
Board of Management of ILBS Deemed-to-be-University.
m. Consider the request of the ILBS Deemed to be
University to provide funds;
n. To provide funds for meeting the functional requirements
of the ILBS Deemed to be University;
o. Consider and decide the request of the ILBS Deemed-to-
be-University on the matters regarding acquisition,
management & disposal of any immovable property, Creation
of posts etc.;
p. Perform such other functions as may be prescribed by
Rules.”
(emphasis supplied)
9. Bye-law 14(j) provides for the appointment of Chancellor and merely
specifies that the person appointed as Chancellor should be an eminent
educationist or a distinguished public figure who shall neither be a member
of the Society nor a close relative of the Chairman of the Society.
10. At this stage, it is pertinent to note the remarkable achievements of
Dr. Sarin, who is widely recognized as an eminent gastroenterologist of our
country and is certainly a distinguished public figure. His contributions have
been lauded with prestigious honors, including the Padma Bhushan, the
third-highest civilian award bestowed by the Government of India.
Additionally, he has been honored with the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar
Award, the highest multi-disciplinary science award in India for Science and
Technology. Dr. Sarin's accomplishments extend beyond national
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boundaries. He has received the coveted prize of ‘The Most Distinguished
Physician from India’ from the American Association of Physicians of
Indian Origin. His dedication to medical education has been acknowledged
with the ‘Gifted Teacher Award’ by the Association of Physicians of India.
Notably, Dr. Sarin played a pivotal role in the establishment of ILBS under
the auspices of the GNCTD in 2009.
th
11. The relevant portion of the order dated 19 August, 2022, issued by
the GNCTD appointing Dr. Sarin as the Chancellor of ILBS is reproduced as
under:
“GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF
DELHI HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT
th
9 LEVEL, A-WING DELHI SECRETARIAT, IP ESTATE NEW
DELHI-11 0002
No. 93/Society/H&FW/2017/hfwds/2-9 Date: 19/08/2022
ORDER
The competent authority is pleased to appoint Dr. S.K. Sarin as
Chancellor of the ILBS Deemed-to-be-University in terms of
Bye-laws 4(iv) and 14(j) of the ILBS Society read with rule 42
of the ILBS Deemed-to-be-University and Regulation 10.12.1
(ii) of the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities)
Regulations, 2019, for a period of 5 years w.e.f. 20/08/2022, or
from the date of assuming office, whichever is later.
Sd/-
(AJAY BISHT)
Dy. Secretary (H&FW)”
12. The said order has been passed by the Competent Authority in this
regard and this fact has not been disputed. Dr. Sarin has been appointed as
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the Chancellor of ILBS for a period of five years from 20 August 2022, and
therefore, in light of the afore-extracted provisions, the ground canvassed by
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the Petitioner that no person can be appointed as Chancellor of ILBS if he
has crossed 70 years of age, does not hold water.
13. It has also been argued by Learned Counsel for the Petitioner that the
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extension of Dr. Sarin’s tenure as Director of ILBS vide order dated 18
February 2023, issued by the GNCTD, violates Bye-Law 10.2 which
specifies that the tenure of the Director shall be for a term of five years
which can be extended for a further period of 5 years on the
recommendation of the Governing Council. The Petitioner submits that as
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per Bye-Law 10.2, two tenures of Dr. Sarin has already expired on 13
January, 2020.
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14. This Court has reviewed the order dated 18 February 2023 which
reveals that the recruitment and appointment process for a regular incumbent
to the position of Director has not yet reached completion. Given the
vacancy in the Director’s post, Dr. Sarin was temporarily entrusted with the
responsibilities of this position, in public interest.
15. Learned counsel for the Petitioner argues that the extension granted
for the temporary charge of Director bestowed upon Dr. Sarin is legally
questionable.
16. In the considered opinion of this Court, the necessity to address the
daily operational requirements of ILBS and ensure its uninterrupted
functioning in the absence of a regular Director led to an interim
arrangement where the Chancellor assumed the additional responsibility of
Director. This measure was taken to maintain the institution's operational
efficiency, uphold the quality of patient care, and safeguard the interests of
both the faculty and students who depend on ILBS for their educational and
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medical needs. It is important to note that the appointment of a regular
Director is a time-consuming process that involves meticulous scrutiny and
selection procedures, and any delay in this process could potentially disrupt
the institution's functioning.
17. This Court acknowledges the Petitioner's concern regarding the
extension of the temporary charge of Director to Dr. Sarin. However, it is
essential to balance the need for regular appointment with the immediate
needs of ILBS. Given the paramount importance of ensuring that the
institution continues to provide medical services and education, this Court
finds no compelling grounds to interfere with the decision to entrust the
Chancellor with the additional role of Director during this transitional
period. This arrangement serves the best interests of ILBS and its
stakeholders while the process of appointing a regular Director progress.
18. Learned counsel for the Petitioner has heavily relied upon the
judgment of this Court in the case of Suresh Gaur Vs. Government of NCT
of Delhi & Ors ., 300 (2023) DLT 562 (DB). However, this case can be
distinguished based on factual dissimilarities. The facts surrounding the case
of Suresh Gaur (supra) reveal that, in that case, there was no sanctioned
post of Director, and an appointment was made outside the purview of
Recruitment Rules therein. Given those circumstances, the appointment of a
Director therein was rightfully set aside.
19. In contrast, the present case does not involve such contingencies.
Here, a person was appointed to the post of Chancellor and was
subsequently given the additional post of Director, in public interest and not
in violation with the established norms and regulations governing the
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appointment process. Therefore, the circumstances and legal basis for the
appointment in this case differ from those in the Suresh Gaur case.
20. In the considered opinion of this Court, the grounds presented in the
current petition lack any substantial merit. This petition appears to be a clear
misuse of the legal process, as it takes the form of a PIL while presenting
incorrect information about the age restriction placed for the post of
Chancellor. It is worth noting that the Petitioner, who was not selected as a
Professor at ILBS, has initiated this action. However, despite the
questionable maintainability of this petition, we have chosen not to dismiss
it solely on those grounds. Instead, we have thoroughly examined the matter
on its merits. Upon a comprehensive review, for the reasons noted above, we
find no irregularities or legal violations concerning the appointment of Dr.
Sarin to the position of Chancellor and Director at ILBS.
21. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Kushum Lata Vs. Union
of India & Others , (2006) 6 SCC 180, had deprecated the practice of filing
such PILs which are nothing but a camouflage to foster personal disputes,
and in paragraphs 5 to 22 has held as under:
“5. When there is material to show that a petition styled as a
public interest litigation is nothing but a camouflage to foster
personal disputes, the said petition is to be thrown out. Before
we grapple with the issue involved in the present case, we feel it
necessary to consider the issue regarding public interest aspect.
Public interest litigation which has now come to occupy an
important field in the administration of law should not be
“publicity interest litigation” or “private interest litigation” or
“politics interest litigation” or the latest trend “paise income
litigation”. The High Court has found that the case at hand
belongs to the second category. If not properly regulated and
abuse averted, it becomes also a tool in unscrupulous hands to
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release vendetta and wreak vengeance, as well. There must be
real and genuine public interest involved in the litigation and
not merely an adventure of a knight errant borne out of wishful
thinking. It cannot also be invoked by a person or a body of
persons to further his or their personal causes or satisfy his or
their personal grudge and enmity. The courts of justice should
not be allowed to be polluted by unscrupulous litigants by
resorting to the extraordinary jurisdiction. A person acting
bona fide and having sufficient interest in the proceeding of
public interest litigation will alone have a locus standi and can
approach the court to wipe out violation of fundamental rights
and genuine infraction of statutory provisions, but not for
personal gain or private profit or political motive or any
oblique consideration. These aspects were highlighted by this
Court in Janata Dal v. H.S. Chowdhary [(1992) 4 SCC 305 :
1993 SCC (Cri) 36] and Kazi Lhendup Dorji v. CBI [1994 Supp
(2) SCC 116 : 1994 SCC (Cri) 873] . A writ petitioner who
comes to the court for relief in public interest must come not
only with clean hands like any other writ petitioner but also
with a clean heart, clean mind and clean objective. (See Ramjas
Foundation v. Union of India [1993 Supp (2) SCC 20 : AIR
1993 SC 852] and K.R. Srinivas v. R.M. Premchand [(1994) 6
SCC 620] .)
6. It is necessary to take note of the meaning of the
expression “public interest litigation”. In Stroud's Judicial
Dictionary, Vol. 4 (4th Edn.), “public interest” is defined thus:
“Public interest.—(1) A matter of public or
general interest „does not mean that which is
interesting as gratifying curiosity or a love of
information or amusement; but that in which a
class of the community have a pecuniary interest,
or some interest by which their legal rights or
liabilities are affected‟.”
7. In Black's Law Dictionary (6th Edn.) “public interest” is
defined as follows:
“Public interest.—Something in which the public,
the community at large, has some pecuniary
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interest, or some interest by which their legal
rights or liabilities are affected. It does not mean
anything so narrow as mere curiosity, or as the
interests of the particular localities, which may be
affected by the matters in question. Interest shared
by citizens generally in affairs of local, State or
national Government.”
8. In Janata Dal case [(1992) 4 SCC 305 : 1993 SCC (Cri)
36] this Court considered the scope of public interest litigation.
In para 53 of the said judgment, after considering what is
public interest, has laid down as follows : (SCC p. 331)
“53. The expression „litigation‟ means a legal
action including all proceedings therein, initiated
in a court of law with the purpose of enforcing a
right or seeking a remedy. Therefore, lexically the
expression „PIL‟ means a legal action initiated in
a court of law for the enforcement of public
interest or general interest in which the public or a
class of the community have pecuniary interest or
some interest by which their legal rights or
liabilities are affected.”
9. In paras 60, 61 and 62 of the said judgment, it was
pointed out as follows : (SCC p. 334)
“62. Be that as it may, it is needless to emphasise
that the requirement of locus standi of a party to a
litigation is mandatory; because the legal capacity
of the party to any litigation whether in private or
public action in relation to any specific remedy
sought for has to be primarily ascertained at the
threshold.”
10. In para 98 of the said judgment, it has further been
pointed out as follows : (SCC pp. 345-46)
“98. While this Court has laid down a chain of
notable decisions with all emphasis at their
command about the importance and significance of
this newly developed doctrine of PIL, it has also
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hastened to sound a red alert and a note of severe
warning that courts should not allow its process to
be abused by a mere busybody or a meddlesome
interloper or wayfarer or officious intervener
without any interest or concern except for personal
gain or private profit or other oblique
consideration.”
11. In subsequent paras of the said judgment, it was
observed as follows : (SCC p. 348, para 109)
“109. It is thus clear that only a person acting
bona fide and having sufficient interest in the
proceeding of PIL will alone have a locus standi
and can approach the court to wipe out the tears of
the poor and needy, suffering from violation of
their fundamental rights, but not a person for
personal gain or private profit or political motive
or any oblique consideration. Similarly, a
vexatious petition under the colour of PIL brought
before the court for vindicating any personal
grievance, deserves rejection at the threshold.”
12. It is depressing to note that on account of such trumpery
proceedings initiated before the courts, innumerable days are
wasted, which time otherwise could have been spent for the
disposal of cases of the genuine litigants. Though we spare no
efforts in fostering and developing the laudable concept of PIL
and extending our long arm of sympathy to the poor, the
ignorant, the oppressed and the needy whose fundamental
rights are infringed and violated and whose grievances go
unnoticed, unrepresented and unheard; yet we cannot avoid but
express our opinion that while genuine litigants with legitimate
grievances relating to civil matters involving properties worth
hundreds of millions of rupees and criminal cases in which
persons sentenced to death facing gallows under untold agony
and persons sentenced to life imprisonment and kept in
incarceration for long years, persons suffering from undue
delay in service matters — government or private, persons
awaiting the disposal of cases wherein huge amounts of public
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revenue or unauthorised collection of tax amounts are locked
up, detenu expecting their release from the detention orders,
etc. etc. are all standing in a long serpentine queue for years
with the fond hope of getting into the courts and having their
grievances redressed, the busybodies, meddlesome interlopers,
wayfarers or officious interveners having absolutely no public
interest except for personal gain or private profit either of
themselves or as a proxy of others or for any other extraneous
motivation or for glare of publicity, break the queue muffing
their faces by wearing the mask of public interest litigation and
get into the courts by filing vexatious and frivolous petitions
and thus criminally waste the valuable time of the courts and as
a result of which the queue standing outside the doors of the
courts never moves, which piquant situation creates frustration
in the minds of the genuine litigants and resultantly they lose
faith in the administration of our judicial system.
13. Public interest litigation is a weapon which has to be
used with great care and circumspection and the judiciary has
to be extremely careful to see that behind the beautiful veil of
public interest an ugly private malice, vested interest and/or
publicity-seeking is not lurking. It is to be used as an effective
weapon in the armoury of law for delivering social justice to
the citizens. The attractive brand name of public interest
litigation should not be used for suspicious products of
mischief. It should be aimed at redressal of genuine public
wrong or public injury and not publicity oriented or founded on
personal vendetta. As indicated above, the court must be
careful to see that a body of persons or member of public, who
approaches the court is acting bona fide and not for personal
gain or private motive or political motivation or other oblique
considerations. The court must not allow its process to be
abused for oblique considerations by masked phantoms who
monitor at times from behind. Some persons with vested interest
indulge in the pastime of meddling with judicial process either
by force of habit or from improper motives, and try to bargain
for a good deal as well to enrich themselves. Often they are
actuated by a desire to win notoriety or cheap popularity. The
petitions of such busybodies deserve to be thrown out by
W.P.(C.) No.12464/2023 Page 16 of 17
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:BHUPINDER SINGH
ROHELLA
Signing Date:19.10.2023
15:49:35
rejection at the threshold, and in appropriate cases with
exemplary costs.”
22. Accordingly, the present Petition is dismissed with costs of
Rs.10,000/-, to be deposited with Army Battle Casualty Fund within four
weeks from the date of this judgement.
SATISH CHANDRA SHARMA, CJ
SANJEEV NARULA, J.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
B.S. Rohella
(Judgment released on 19.10.2023)
W.P.(C.) No.12464/2023 Page 17 of 17
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:BHUPINDER SINGH
ROHELLA
Signing Date:19.10.2023
15:49:35