Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Thursday, Mar 30, 2006
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Thursday, Mar 30, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marketing
-
Advertising Industry & Economy - Courts/Legal Issues States - Tamil Nadu HC cautions against using court to gain `political mileage' Our Special Correspondent
Court says It is distressing to note that the court is flooded with a large number of PILs sponsored by one political party or the other though no public interest is involved, the Bench observed.
Chennai , March 29 Taking on advocates and others attempting to use the court to gain "political mileage," the Madras High Court has imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on a lawyer who filed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition alleging irregularities in the award of BSNL advertisements. The matter relates to the PIL filed by Mr J. Veparasu seeking CBI probe into the release of BSNL advertisements to television channels, radio stations and newspapers owned and controlled by family members and relatives of the Union Minister for IT and Communications, Mr Dayanidhi Maran. "It is a frivolous petition. Let the message go to the litigant public that this forum (court) is not to be abused by petitioners sponsored by political parties to gain political mileage or benefit," said the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Mr A.P. Shah and Ms Justice Prabha Sridevan. The cost amount shall go to the BSNL and Mr Maran, the Bench added. The judges said the details furnished by the BSNL revealed that the allegations against the media group were "false and contrary to records." They further said: "It is regrettable that malicious averments have been made by a practising advocate. It is pertinent to note that this writ petition was filed in the wake of announcement of elections. Allegations are scandalous. The writ petitioner should come to court not only with clean hands but also with clean mind and objective." It is distressing to note that the court is flooded with a large number of PILs sponsored by one political party or the other though no public interest is involved, the Bench observed. "Time has come to put an end to this by imposing an exemplary cost," it added. Later, accepting the unconditional apology tendered by counsel of another advocate Mr B.K. Girish Nilakantan, who sought CBI probe into the release of Tamil Nadu Government advertisements and notifications to Jaya TV channel and Dr Namadhu MGR newspaper, the Bench imposed a cost of Rs 5,000 on him. The sum shall be donated to the Conciliation and Mediation Centre in the court premises. The advocate filed an affidavit stating that he would not indulge in such activities in future, and requested the court to permit him to withdraw the PIL.
More Stories on : Advertising | Courts/Legal Issues | Politics | Tamil Nadu
Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2006, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|