`Mockery of proceedings': TS HC dismisses PIL, fines petitioner Rs 1L

Telangana High Court slapped a fine of Rs one lakh on a petitioner for making a "mockery of the proceedings".

It happened when the division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy took up Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Hussain Bin Ali seeking direction to the state government to reopen the pending VII CMM case,

Neither the petitioner's counsel nor the respondent's advocate were present at the time of proceedings. The petitioner, who was at the door, shouted that he would like to submit before the Court.

Enraged over the attitude of the petitioner, Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said: "Who allowed you inside the Court? Now you make the submissions before the Court. Moreover, this has become a mockery of the Court proceedings. We will direct the police to take you in custody if you behave like this."

CJ Bhuyan asked him who his counsel was. "Did your counsel ask you to behave like this? Is this the way you come to the High Court and that too in Hall number 1?" Justice Ujjal Bhuyan asked.

Before passing the order, the bench said the petitioner is not the complainant in the calender case. "One Mr. Khaleel is the complainant. It is stated that on 9th December, the matter was compromised in the Lok Adalat," the court said.

On September 12, when the bench heard the maintainability of the PIL, the petitioner's counsel was not prepared. At his request, one week was granted to him.

Later on, another counsel Ranjeet Kumar appeared before the Court. In the petition, the counsel's name is stated as Shaik Mohammad. In the same case Vakalath was submitted by another Counsel Lovaneet Kumar Sharma, Justice Bhuyan said.

Irked over the mockery of the Court, the bench dismissed the Public Interest Litigation and imposed the cost of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioner. He was asked to deposit the money in the Telangana State Legal Services Authority, High Court, Hyderabad within 30 days.