'PIL Filed For Publicity Without Proper Research': Madras High Court Bars Litigant From Filing PILs For 2 Yrs, Imposes Cost

In a plea seeking a slew of "exceedingly general directions" for tackling the menace of corruption, the Madras High Court has censured the petitioner for filing public interest litigations for mere publicity, without proper research.

The first bench of Acting Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice PD Audikesavalu further imposed a cost of Rupees Ten Thousand on the petitioner while dismissing the PIL. The petitioner, K.K Ramesh, has also been barred by the court from filing PILs for two years.

In the prayer, the petitioner primarily sought a general direction for confiscating movable and immovable properties of corrupt officials. In addition, the plea also sought directions to set up notice boards in Government offices implying that corruption is a punishable offence. Another relief sought was installation of CCTV Cameras in all Government offices.

The bench noted that the petitioner has not relied on any statutory/ constitutional provisions to bolster his submissions. All the allegations of corruption are subject to trial, action cannot be taken merely on receipt of information about corruption until the preliminary investigation is over, the court observed.

About the direction to install CCTV cameras, the court added that the said prayer was oblivious to the personal liberties of individuals or the constitutional provisions. 

The court also pointed out that the petitioner has been warned previously for indulging in such petitions. After taking note of the frivolous nature of the PIL filed, the court clarified that the costs imposed must be paid to the State Legal Services Authority.

Case Title: K.K Ramesh v. Union Of India & Ors.

Case No: WP(MD)/1523/2022 (PIL)

Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Mad) 41