Advocate files 5 PILs, gets SC flak for raising 'frivolous' pleas

NEW DELHI: Advocate Sachin Gupta created a record of sorts on Monday by arguing five PILs one after the other spanning a range of issues - from inclusion of Pali language in the Sixth Schedule to garlic's 'tamasic' quality - only to get a mouthful from Supreme Court and escape exemplary costs by a whisker.

Arguing the PILs as petitioner-in-person, Gupta began with a plea seeking direction to the govt to use technology to make liquor and tobacco products free of harmful chemicals and substances.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, "No liquor or tobacco product can be sold without health warning. If after reading the warning people are buying, what is your problem? You want shop owners to provide them with a medical prescription?"

Terming the petition frivolous, the bench dismissed it. The next one questioned the conferment of classical language status to Pali in Oct 2024, with Gupta submitting that Prakrit is the original language from which Pali evolved as a dialect. He argued that conferment of classical language status on Prakrit makes the same status for Pali redundant.

But the petition seeking constitution of a committee to determine the 'tamasic' characteristics of garlic - citing it had become a bone of contention in Jain families - drew the court's sharpest reaction.

The CJI said, "All these PILs are filed to garner publicity in social media and newspapers. Leniency shown by us to such petitioners has made them open shops for PILs. If you were not an advocate, we would have imposed costs on you for filing such frivolous pleas. Concentrate on your profession and do not fall for cheap publicity."

Later, another PIL by a different lawyer seeking pan-India directions to civic bodies to take precautions while digging trenches or pits also drew a similar frown. "With just one- or two-years practice, young advocates want to become famous by filing PILs," the CJI said while dismissing the plea.

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