Delhi HC imposes Rs 1 lakh as costs on litigant for filing PIL to settle personal scores
New Delhi, Nov 7: The Delhi High Court has imposed costs of Rs 1 lakh on a litigant for filing a public interest litigation (PIL) against her relative to settle personal scores.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma rejected the PIL which sought removal of an "illegal and unauthorized construction" and observed that the petitioner claimed on affidavit that she had no personal interest in the matter but suppressed the fact that the owner of the building was her cousin and there was a dispute between the families.
"It is unfortunate that the forum of PIL is being used to settle personal scores by suppressing the relationship between the parties," said the bench, also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, in a recent order.
"The petitioner who is present in person has admitted the relationship with respondent No.5 in open Court and, therefore, as the petitioner was certainly an interested person, the Petition deserves to be dismissed with costs of Rs. 1,00,000/- to be paid to Army Battle Causalities Welfare Fund within 30 days from today," the court directed.
The court said a person who has not come with clean hands is not entitled to any relief and nothing prevented the petitioner from disclosing the relationship with owner.
The court also said the petitioner's conduct amounted to committing contempt but refrained from proceeding further as she was a woman and costs were imposed on her.
It nonetheless warned her to be careful in future and not file such frivolous petitions again by suppressing material facts.
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Latur teacher beats 32 students over suspicion of motorbike damage; arrested
Latur (Maharashtra) (PTI): Police have arrested a school teacher in Maharashtra's Latur district for allegedly thrashing 32 minor students, suspecting them of damaging his motorcycle, officials said.
Some pupils sustained injuries in the incident, which occurred at the private school hostel for students from classes 5 to 10 near Ahmedpur on the night of February 21, they said.
The accused, identified as Ujjwal Prakash Soni, suspected that students had damaged his motorcycle. He allegedly lost his temper and assaulted dozens of minor students with a bamboo stick, police said on Monday.
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He also allegedly threatened the children, claiming he would soon become the school principal and would then deal with them, the police said.
The principal of Christ International School, Zeba Nadar, later lodged a complaint at Ahmedpur Police Station.
The police arrested Soni after registering a case against him under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
In an official statement, Principal Nadar said the school lodged the complaint on February 22 and assured that student safety remains the institution's top priority.
"The incident is deeply unfortunate and condemnable. The school administration stands firmly with the students and will ensure their well-being," the principal said.
