Bombay High Court imposed cost on a Petitioner for bringing up a matter as urgent during the Coronavirus lockdown. It was held by the Court that in view of Covid-19, the matter did not demand any urgency. In Spite of that, the Petitioner mentioned the matter for urgent hearing.
The petition was filed under Article 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India wherein the question involved was a challenge to an order dated September 20, 2019 passed by the Minister, Food and Drugs Department of Maharashtra in an appeal. The petitioner had argued that several Writ Petitions were pending before the court during this time, and that a stay had been granted by this Court in various matters. Advocate Rahul More was present for the Petitioner and no one was present for the respondent, State of Maharashtra.
Js. KK Tated of Bombay High Court held that cost of 25000 Rupees has to be deposited in the Registry within two months , failing which same be recovered as land revenue from the Petitioner.
-India Legal Bureau