Bombay High Court dismisses PIL against Z+ security cover for RSS, calls it ‘motivated’

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition against grant of of Z+ VVIP security cover to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its leaders including chief Mohan Bhagwat [Lalan Kishor Singh v. Union Of India].

A division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Anil S Kilor said that it was “motivated petition” and an abuse of the process of law.

The PIL filed by one Lalan Kishor Singh relied on Supreme Court’s decision to claim that Z+ Security cover provided to any person must have a reasonable basis of a security threat to that person.

“Moreover, the public money cannot be wasted on the expenses incurred for providing security cover to an organization like RSS”, Singh’s counsel argued. 

He sought directions to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and other authorities to recover charges incurred for providing such security from Mohan Bhagwat.

The Court noted that except for stating he was a citizen of India, Singh had not disclosed any personal details or the source of his information. 

The Court recorded that he appeared to have rushed to court solely based on newspaper reports and had not carried out the research mandated under the relevant PIL rules.

“We do not find any public interest involved in this writ petition marked as PIL. Quite apparently, this PIL is a motivated petition and amounts to an abuse of the process of law,” the order said.

The Court accordingly dismissed the PIL.

Advocate AR Ingole appeared for Singh.

Deputy Solicitor General Kartik Shukul appeared for Union government

Government pleader DV Chauhan with additional government pleader NS Rao appeared for State.

[Read Order]