Supreme Court Rejects Plea Challenging ₹5 Lakh Cost on 2023 PIL Petitioner
The Supreme Court on Sunday rejected a plea challenging the imposition of a ₹5 lakh cost on a PIL petitioner in 2023. The petitioner, lawyer Ashok Pandey, had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that was dismissed by a bench headed by then Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud on October 13, 2023.
The Court’s recent order upholds the previous decision, maintaining that the imposition of costs was justified, given the nature of the PIL and the lack of substantial grounds for the petition. The Supreme Court emphasised that PILs, intended to serve public interest, should not be filed frivolously or without merit, as they burden the judicial system.
The bench clarified that costs are a legitimate mechanism to discourage vexatious or unsubstantiated litigation, and reiterated the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that PILs are used responsibly. The petitioner’s challenge was dismissed, and the ₹5 lakh cost remains enforceable.
Supreme Court Rejects Plea Challenging ₹5 Lakh Cost on 2023 PIL Petitioner
