PIL In Bombay High Court Seeks To Direct Eknath Shinde To Return To Maharashtra To Resume Official Duties

A PIL has been filed in the Bombay High Court alleging that Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Eknath Shinde and other rebel 38 Shiv Sena MLAs hare "neglecting" their official duties by camping in a hotel in Gauhati. The plea seeks directions to them to return to Maharashtra to resume official functions.

The PIL was by one Utpal Baburao Chandawar and others and was mentioned before the bench CJ Dipankar Datta and Justice MS Karnik by advocate Asim Sarode.

The bench said it would consider listing the PIL. "You submit the praecipe we will see," Justice Dipankar Datta said.

The PIL filed through advocate Ajinkya Udane states that Citizen's public rights are getting ignored due to the current political turmoil that is taking place in the State of Maharashtra.

"It is public nuisance to the citizens as the Ministers in Maharashtra are causing neglecting their duties towards the citizens who have elected them, Instead of working for the community, these Respondents are aiming at securing personal gains by instigating internal disorder within the govemance of the State."

The PIL has the following prayers

1. Direct the Respondent No.1(Shinde) who is on unofficial leave with other Ministers to return to the State and assume their duties.

2. Appropriate action may kindly be taken on Respondent No.1 and through him other Ministers with him, for omission of duties and moral wrongs committed leading to disrespect towards public rights and good governance.

3. Detailed plan of assurance mentioning the process of governance in absence of many Ministers.

The petitioner claims he is a followed of Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts. 

The Petitioner said that "in the present scenario, the whole governance is at stake because of the public nuisance situation created by Respondent No. 1 Eknath Shinde and other abettors of public nuisance. And this is not done in the interest of the citizens but in the interest of their personal political power that they want."

The petition adds that according to newspaper reports over Rs 3000 crore is being spent on the rebel MLAs and through horse trading Rs 50 crore per MLA.

It adds that this is the crucial time for the farmers. Providing them seeds, fertilizers on time, addressing their emerging issues are some duties casted on the Agricultural Minister. "But the Agriculture Minister for Maharashtra Mr. Dada Bhuse is in Guwahati.

It may be noted that only Eknath Shinde has been cited as a respondent in the PIL, other MLAs have not been made parities. However, the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP political parties have all been cited as respondents.