Publicity Interest Litigations increasing

Bangalore, Mar 25: The Karnataka High Court expressed concern over the growing tendency of converting Public Interest Litigations into ''Publicity Interest Litigations'' and warned that it would derail the course of justice.

The court, comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Mr Justice V G Sabahit, yesterday issued the warning while dismissing a writ petition filed by city-based advocate, S Vasudeva, seeking a direction to the state government and other authorities to take action under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other penal laws against the five police officers whose assets were found far in excess of their income by the Lokayukta.

The Lokayukta had during recent raids recovered assets worth Rs 60 crore from the premises of the five officers.

Rejecting the petition as premature, the judges observed that Mr Vasudeva had based his petition only on newspaper clippings.

They said the petition was misconceived and an abuse of the process of the court/law. The petitioner had not waited till the action was completed and report was submitted. He had also wasted the time of the court.

Dismissing the petition, the court directed the petitioner to pay Rs 25,000 as penalty within one month to the Legal Services Authority failing which the latter could recover the amount as per law.

UNI