'These Petitions Disturb Us': Delhi High Court Pulls Up NGO For Repeatedly Filing PILs Alleging Illegal Encroachment By Mosques

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (January 14) pulled up an NGO for repeatedly filing public interest litigations alleging illegal encroachments by mosques and dargahs in various areas in the national capital.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia noted that the petitions seeking similar relief were being listed every second day, calling it sheer misuse of PIL jurisdiction.

The plea was filed by NGO Save India Foundation. It concerned alleged illegal encroachment in the Green Park area by a masjid.

At the outset, the Bench took exception to the repeated filing of the PILs and said: “This is sheer misuse of PIL jurisdiction. You don't see any other ill in the society?”

The Court said that while it understands delay on the part of civic authorities like DDA, MCD, National Task Force and the police authorities but repeated filing of similar petitions every single day is not justified.

Remarking that there are better ways to serve humanity, the Court said that there is a need to curb the practice of filing of repeated PILs by the same person.

“You see only one kind of encroachment? These petitions disturb us,” Chief Justice orally told the NGO's counsel.

Senior Advocate Sanjoy Ghose appearing for the Delhi Waqf Board said that the DDA also participated in the process of demarcation concerning the mosque. He said that the NGO has been filing petitions targeting religious sites of a particular community.

After hearing the parties, the Court listed the matter for hearing next on January 21.

Title: Save India Foundation v. Delhi Waqf Board & Ors