Everyone a champion of bogus PILs, petitioners must come with homework: Delhi HC

Expressing its displeasure over "bogus" public interest litigations, the Delhi High Court today said that petitioners in PILs must come after doing their homework. .A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan remarked, .Everyone is a champion of bogus PILs.. All blackmailing type of PILs!.The Court was hearing a PIL alleging mushrooming of illegal hookah bars in the national capital. .The Petitioner sought a direction to the Delhi Police and municipal authorities to inspect and take action against such illegal hookah joints. .On being informed that the Petitioner was a freelance court clerk, the Court questioned as to what interest did a court clerk have in hookah bars. ."I want to know if this is the case where the client approached the counsel or the counsel approached the client.. For a court clerk to suddenly come like this.. the whole situation with PIL..What is the history with working in this field? What is the source of knowledge?", the Court asked. .The Petitioner explained that the Petitioner was around South Delhi and he himself noticed that several hookah bars were being operated in violation of the law and the orders issued by the Delhi Government. .The Court, however, pointed out that the petition contained only "general allegations", without reference to any specific illegal hookah joint. .Delhi HC calls for affidavit disclosing identity after realising that petitioner had appeared with a different name in another PIL .Stating that the PIL would be dismissed with heavy costs, the Court remarked, .PIL petitioner has to do their homework.. All are super government, all are super police!Delhi High Court.Chief Justice DN Patel further remarked that till date, he has not seen a single PIL on tax evasion. .Why don't you come with a PIL on persons not paying taxes?..Where are all the activists?he said. .The Court ultimately allowed the Petitioner to withdraw the petition. .The Court said that the the matter deserved to be dismissed with a heavy cost. However, keeping in mind the present pandemic, the same was not imposed.