A lawyer earlier reprimanded for filing “frivolous and baseless” PILs sought to withdraw 17 of 47 petitions, telling the Supreme Court he would approach authorities first. The bench led by CJI Surya Kant allowed advocate Sachin Gupta’s request.
A lawyer, reprimanded last month for filing “frivolous and baseless” public interest litigations, appeared before the Supreme Court seeking permission to withdraw 17 of the 47 separate PILs he had filed.
He also said he would first approach the concerned authorities.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi allowed advocate Sachin Gupta to withdraw the pleas.
Speaking as petitioner in person, Gupta said he was withdrawing the PILs as soon as the 17 petitions came up for hearing before the bench.
He said,
“I am withdrawing the petitions. I will approach the authorities,”
Earlier, On April 10, when 25 separate PILs were listed for hearing, the Supreme Court directed Gupta to approach the authorities rather than rushing to the court. The bench observed that the court could consider his petitions at an appropriate stage if the need arose.
The apex court permitted Gupta to withdraw the 25 PILs that were listed for hearing.
Earlier, on March 9, the Supreme Court dismissed five “frivolous” PILs, including one seeking a scientific study on whether onion and garlic possess “tamasic” (negative) energy.
“Aadhi raat ko yeh sab petition draft karte ho kya? (Do you draft all these petitions in the middle of the night?)”
The CJI reprimanded him, terming the PIL,
“vague, frivolous and baseless”.
The bench also dismissed four additional PILs filed by Gupta, including one seeking directions to regulate allegedly harmful content in alcohol and tobacco products.