Plea against Anna's fast dismissed

A few hours before anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare called of his fast, the Bombay high court dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) which sought that his movement be declared illegal and unconstitutional and he and his supporters be restrained from going ahead with Jail Bharo Andolan.

A vacation bench of justice ML Tahilyani and justice Girish Godbole asked the petitioner Mangaleshwar alias Munna Tripathi why cost should not be imposed on him.

On behalf of his client, advocate Yusuf Iqbal said the PIL was filed in public interest and Tripathi had nothing to gain personally.

The judges then dismissed the PIL without imposing any cost observing that it was a “frivolous” petition.

Seeking restrain on Hazare and his supporters, the PIL had contended: “If such actions are allowed and encouraged, it would tear the democracy of our country and will lead to complete chaos and anarchy. It is wrong if a group of persons who have no electoral mandate are allowed to force the government and elected representatives to accept their version of a law.”