The New Indian Express ·
Orissa HC imposes Rs 50K fine on petitioner for misusing PIL
CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has imposed Rs 50,000 fine on a petitioner for filing a PIL challenging construction of a government Kalyan Mandap on private land in Badamba block of Cuttack district.
A division bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Chittaranjan Dash termed the case a classic example of misuse and abuse of the remedy of public interest litigation. The petitioner had no locus standi and used the PIL mechanism to settle a personal score, the bench observed.
The PIL was filed by one Biswanath Behera of Badamba Block, questioning the construction of the Kalyan Mandap on private land. The court noted that the petitioner was neither the owner nor occupier nor settlee of the land concerned. It also took note of the fact that the actual owner had not raised any objection to the construction.
