5 months ago
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The Supreme Court connected Monday (January 19, 2026) dismissed a plea of a Lucknow-based lawyer who alleged that alternatively of ₹25,000, arsenic pronounced successful the unfastened court, a good of ₹5 lakh was imposed connected him successful October 2023 for filing a "frivolous" PIL.
A seat headed by the past Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud (since retired), connected October 13, 2023, had dismissed the PIL filed by lawyer Ashok Pandey seeking a absorption that Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, who is the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court now, beryllium sworn successful again arsenic the Bombay High Court Chief Justice arsenic the oath was not taken arsenic prescribed nether the Constitution.
According to Mr. Pandey, the seat had besides imposed ₹25,000 arsenic a outgo connected him successful the unfastened tribunal for filing the "frivolous" PIL.
He claimed aboriginal that the bid contained ₹5 lakh arsenic the fine, and now, the collector is proposing enactment against him for betterment of the amount.
"We volition spell by the order, and it contains Rs 5 lakh," a seat comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi said portion rejecting the caller plea of Pandey seeking modification of the 2023 bid and an enquiry into the issue.
"These each are publicity petitions," the CJI remarked.
The 2023 PIL had said that erstwhile Justice Upadhyaya was sworn successful arsenic the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court connected July 29, that year, helium did not usage the connection 'I' earlier taking his name, which contravened the 3rd docket of the Constitution.
"There is simply a bounds to frivolity...," the bench, besides comprising justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, had said.
"The prayers raised successful the plea are seeking the medication of a caller oath to Justice D K Upadhyay arsenic Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. It further states that the Governor and main curate of Goa, Daman and Diu were not invited for the ceremony," the seat had said.
"This is lone a frivolous effort to usage the PIL jurisdiction to get immoderate publicity...such frivolous PILs instrumentality the clip of the tribunal and deflect the tribunal from taking up important matters," the seat had said, adding that present the clip has travel to enforce a good for filing specified cases.
"We person to beryllium down and work these matters and pain our midnight oil...This is rather serious," the seat said.
