New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (May 5) dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions for more security and safety of tourists visiting remote hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir in view of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh, while dismissing the PIL, rebuked advocate Vishal Tiwari for filing one after the other PILs, saying the primary aim behind filing these PILs appears to be to get publicity with no real interest in the public cause.
Don’t you understand the sensitivity of the issue, apex court asked petitioner
“Why have you filed this kind of PIL? What is your real motive? Don’t you understand the sensitivity of the issue? I think you are inviting some exemplary cost for filing this PIL,” Justice Surya Kant told petitioner Tiwari.
Tiwari told the bench that this was the first time that tourists were targeted in Jammu and Kashmir and his plea is to ensure protection to tourists.
“The petitioner is indulging in filing one after the other PIL in which the primary aim appears to be to get publicity with no real interest in the public cause. Dismissed,” the bench said.
At least 26 persons, mostly tourists, were killed in a terror attack at Pahalgam
In an attack targeted at unarmed, innocent civilians, mostly tourists, terrorists killed at least 26 people on April 22, including two foreigners and two locals, and injured several others.
Apex court earlier refused to entertain a PIL seeking constitution of a judicial commission to probe April 22 attack
The apex court earlier refused to entertain a PIL seeking constitution of a judicial commission to probe the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and castigated the petitioners who sought a retired judge to monitor probe into the Pahalgam terror attack.
“You are asking retired Supreme Court judge to investigate. They are not experts in investigation but can only adjudicate and decide an issue. Don’t ask us to pass an order. Go wherever you want to go. Better you withdraw,” the bench had told one of the petitioners.
The top court, while dismissing the said PIL, asked the petitioners to realise the sensitivity of the issue and to not make any prayer in court which demoralised the forces.
“In this crucial time, each and every citizen of the country has joined hands to fight terror. Do you want to demoralise the security forces by filing this kind of PIL. Don’t bring this kind of issue in judicial domain,” the top court told petitioners while dismissing the PIL.
