New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed with costs a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action against senior Maharashtra officials for allegedly not meeting with the protocol while receiving Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai during his first visit to Mumbai recently.
A bench comprising CJI Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, while dismissing the petition with costs of Rupees 7,000, warned petitioner, Shailendra Mani Tripathi, a lawyer, to not bring the office of the CJI under unnecessary controversy.
This is just publicity interest litigation: Apex Court
“This is just publicity interest litigation. You just want to see your name in the newspaper. That’s all. If you thought about the office you would know that I requested for a quietus to it,” CJI Gavai told the petitioner and added, “Do not bring the office of the CJI under unnecessary controversy.”
The CJI said that he was not concerned with treatment given to individuals but was concerned with the dignity of the office as head of one of the wings of democracy.
The CJI further said that all three officers were at the airport till he left and they tendered apologies, publicly as well, and a press note was also issued urging to give this matter a quietus for the reason that trivial issues should not be blown out of proportion.
We do not appreciate this issue to unnecessarily continue: CJI Gavai
“We do not appreciate this issue to unnecessarily continue. This present PIL is nothing but a publicity interest litigation and only to gain cheap publicity. Let us not make a mountain out of a molehill,” CJI Gawai said while dismissing the plea with costs.
CJI Gavai highlighted breach of protocol during his Maharashtra visit
CJI Gavai, in a function on May 18, highlighted the breach of protocol on absence of Maharashtra chief secretary, director general of police (DGP) or the Mumbai police commissioner to receive him during his first visit to Maharashtra on May 18 following his oath as the 52nd CJI for a felicitation programme by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa.
CJI later requested that matter be given a quietus
After the speech of CJI went viral, the said officers rushed to Chaityabhoomi where the CJI had went to pay respects to Dr BR Ambedkar. They were at the airport till the CJI left and they tendered apology, publicly as well. However, news and videos on the matter were published and noticing that the issue was blown out of proportion, the CJI directed to issue a press release urging to give this issue a quietus.
The press note by the apex court said, “News items are being published regarding protocol issues during the visit of CJI to Maharashtra. All concerned have already expressed regrets” and “The Chief Justice of India has expressed that a trivial issue should not be blown out of proportion. CJI has requested everyone that the matter be given a quietus.”
