The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition which flagged a protocol lapse recently noticed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on a visit to Maharashtra earlier this month. .The Court said that the petition was filed for "cheap publicity" and proceeded to impose costs of ₹7,000 on the petitioner. On May 18, CJI BR Gavai had expressed disappointment over the protocol lapse, which involved a failure of the Maharashtra Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and the Commissioner of Police of Mumbai to be present to welcome the CJI during his first official visit to Maharashtra after his recent appointment as the 52nd Chief Justice of India.He was there to attend a felicitation ceremony organized by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa. The PIL petition before the top court sought action against government officials responsible for the protocol breach.However, the Bench comprising the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Justice AG Masih termed the petition as one filed for cheap publicity over a trivial issue that need not be blown out of proportion any further. CJI Gavai questioned the petitioner on why the issue was still being raked up, when he had himself urged all to put the matter to rest, through a circular issued recently. "This is just publicity interest litigation. You just want to see your name in the newspaper. That's all. If you thought about the office, you would know that I requested for a quietus to it. This will be dismissed with costs!" CJI Gavai remarked. .The Court proceeded to dismiss the petition with costs of ₹7,000 on the petitioner, after noting that he was a lawyer who had been practicing for seven years. "This present PIL is nothing but a publicity interest litigation and only to gain cheap publicity. Let us not make a mountain out of a molehill," the Court said. .It added that when the issue was initially flagged by CJI Gavai, he was concerned not about the treatment shown to any individual but about the dignity of the office of Chief Justice of India. "The CJI was not concerned with the treatment given to individuals but was concerned with the dignity of the office as head of one of the wings of democracy," the Court observed. Further, it was noted that the error was corrected immediately after CJI Gavai had mentioned the issue in his speech at Maharashtra."Immediately after the speech became viral, all three officers rushed to Chaitya Bhoomi where the CJI had went to pay respects to Dr Ambedkar. All the three officers were at the airport till the CJI left and tendered apology and other officers too tendered apology in public. Still news was published and videos were published expressing the aforesaid. Noticing that the state issue was blown out of proportion the CJI directed to issue a press note urging to give this a quietus and trivial issues should not be blown out of proportion," the Court's order said. The Court proceeded to direct the litigant to pay the costs imposed on him to the Legal services authority. "Do not bring the office of the CJI under unnecessary controversy," the Court further warned the petitioner..A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh too had yesterday questioned why such petitions were filed for cheap publicity. "Why do people unnecessarily try to gain cheap popularity? Hon'ble CJI himself said that the matter is being blown out of proportion. There were some lapses...authorities have expressed regret, and CJI accepted it. Do you think CJI stature is measured by this thing?" Justice Kant asked the petitioner. .This Bench had initially indicated that it would take up the matter at 2 PM yesterday. However, the case was initially adjourned and ordered to be listed before the appropriate Bench, following which it came to be listed before the CJI-led Bench today. .[Read Live Coverage]
