LI Network
Published on: December 18, 2023 at 12:31 IST
The Karnataka High Court has declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Indian Railway Mazdoor Union, claiming misappropriation of government funds related to the alleged illegal operation of special trains.
The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit, asserted that the petition lacked substantial evidence and was based solely on assumptions and presumptions made by the petitioner.
The court emphasized that the petitioner, claiming to be the Secretary of the Indian Rail Mazdoor Union, could address their grievance with the competent railway authority to initiate appropriate departmental action against alleged wrongdoers.
The bench highlighted the absence of concrete material on record, such as a preliminary inquiry or specific grievances submitted to authorities, to substantiate the allegations of misappropriation of government funds in connection with the operation of special trains.
The PIL sought decisive action against individuals responsible for the alleged misappropriation and the initiation of a recovery process to compensate for financial losses to public funds caused by the operation of illegal special trains.
The court, however, noted that the material presented by the petitioner consisted only of general rulings passed in employee conferences and lacked specific evidence to warrant the court’s intervention.
In its ruling, the court stated, “This Court cannot entertain a truncated petition of the kind only because somebody is filing it in this Court under the caption of Public Interest Litigation.”
Consequently, the court dismissed the petition, underscoring the need for comprehensive and substantiated pleas in PILs.
Case Title: Indian Rail Mazdoor Union And The Chairman And Chief Executive Officer Railway Board & Others, 2023
