The Bombay high court on Wednesday dismissed a PIL filed against Anna Hazare’s agitation, as the court thought it to be a frivolous petition and not in public interest. However, the court desisted from imposing a fine on the petitioner.
The PIL, filed by Mangleswar, alias Munna Tripathi, president of the NGO Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Parishad, had sought to declare Mr Hazare’s fast at MMRDA as illegal. However, the division bench of Justices M.L. Tahiliyani and Girish Godbole observed that agitation was the right of every citizen and the people staging a protest were aware of the consequences of breaking the law. The HC asked the petitioner to explain how it was in the public’s interest, but the petitioner could not do so. Counsel for the government R.V. Desai argued it was a “frivolous” petition and not in public interest. The fine was not imposed as the counsel for the petitioner Yusuf Iqbal contended that his client would not get any personal benefit.