The Karnataka High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking direction to the Bettahalasuru Gram Panchayat Grama Soudha (4th Respondent) to pass appropriate Resolution after taking Representation from the villagers for selecting names to be incorporated on name plate of each road.
The PIL further seeks direction to instruct the 4th Respondent for passing appropriate Resolution for fixing the names of the persons to be selected on the Representation made by the villagers.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit noted that counsel for the petitioners despite vehement submissions is not in a position to demonstrate the justiciable right, qua the 4th respondent–Grama Panchayat to pass Resolution after taking representations from the villagers for the purpose of naming/renaming the roads, corners & junctions.
“Ordinarily, such an exercise is undertaken by the popular bodies like the Grama Panchayats keeping in view a host of factors, of which, courts may not be in a position to assess & appreciate. “
What road should be named after whom, cannot be a subject matter of adjudication in PIL jurisdiction. No elements of public interest have been shown in the matter, either, the Court clarified.