SC refuses to recall its order, dismisses PIL against Jaitley

The Supreme Court Tuesday refused to recall its order imposing a fine of Rs 50,000 on a lawyer for filing a PIL against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, raising allegations relating to capital reserves of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, which had also dismissed the petition, said it would hear petitioner-lawyer M L Sharma only after he deposits Rs 50,000 as cost with the apex court registry.

“We are not going to recall our any order. You deposit Rs 50,000 then only we will hear your any old or new petition,” the bench which also comprised Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph said.

The lawyer, who had filed the PIL in his personal capacity, Tuesday sought urgent hearing of his plea alleging that the RBI was in dire straits as its Governor Urjit Patel has also resigned.

Last week, a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul had imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on Sharma. The CJI had even chided the petitioner and advised him to stop “going for misadventures” and said “You have done some good work, we acknowledge that but this is not the right approach. We give you a chance to convince us today, however if you don’t, we will pass a judicial order banning you from filing any further PILs.”

Attorney General KK Venugopal suggested that some rules be made regarding the filing of PILs. “Every day, I see 2 PILs. It is high time we made some ground rules,” he said.

The bench also directed the apex court registry not to allow Sharma to file any PIL till he deposits Rs 50,000.

—India Legal Bureau