Petition seeking ban on Sonia meet withdrawan

Mumbai, Jun 19 (UNI) A petition, seeking a ban on addressing of the public meet by Congress president Sonia Gandhi here, was today withdrawn by the sympathiser of Maharashtra Samajwadi Party chief Abu Asim Azmi after court ruled that petitioner was not an affected person.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Janak Dhari, a personal associate of Mr Azmi, who wanted the court to declare as 'illegal' the permission granted to Ms Gandhi to hold the meeting.

He also wanted the court to quash the public notice restraining Mr Azmi from entering Malegaon city in Nashik district.

The petitioner had sought a court directive to revoke the permission granted to Ms Gandhi.

A division bench of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice V M Kanade, while allowing to withdraw the petition, allowed Mr Azmi to appear before the court, if he is aggrieved.

During the earlier hearing, Chief Justice Kumar had asked 'How is someone else aggrieved?' and observed that it appeared to be a personal course of action and not a public interest litigation.

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