HC pulls up NGO for PILs targeting 22 properties

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Thursday pulled up an NGO for moving PIL petitions targeting individual properties for unauthorised construction, saying they appeared to have been filed to extract "vengeance" or settle personal scores.

Right at the outset, a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice C Hari Shankar made it clear it was not going to entertain the pleas and asked the NGO to withdraw the petitions or face consequences, which would include being barred from filing such matters in future.

"The properties are not on government land. You (NGO) file a suit and seek an injunction against the properties.

You have filed 22 petitions to target 22 properties. We can read between the lines. "Article 226 and PILs are not meant for this.

We have better things to do. We will not be a party to this," the bench said, and added that such matters take away judicial time which can be better spent on actual PILs.

Article 226 of the Constitution empowers high courts to issue directions, orders or writs to ensure enforcement of the fundamental rights.

Sensing the mood of the bench, the lawyer for the NGO, Samadhaan Aur Niwaran Apradh Aur Bbharshatachar Se, agreed to withdraw the petitions.

"Dismissed as withdrawn," the court said, and gave liberty to the NGO to take recourse to any other legal means, like filing a suit, on the issue.