The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a series of five Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed by a single advocate, labeling them “vague, frivolous, and baseless.” A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took strong exception to the nature of the petitions, particularly one seeking a scientific study to determine if onion and garlic contain “tamasic” energy.
The “Tamasic” Energy Contention
One of the primary petitions filed by Advocate Sachin Gupta sought directions for the constitution of a research committee to investigate what constitutes “tamasic” or negative content in onion and garlic. The petitioner referenced the dietary practices of the Jain community, which abstains from root vegetables like onion and garlic, classifying them as “tamasic.”
During the hearing, the Chief Justice questioned the intent behind the filing, asking Gupta, who appeared in person, “Why do you want to hurt the sentiments of the Jain community?”
In his defense, the petitioner claimed that the issue is a common one and alleged that a divorce had recently taken place in Gujarat specifically over the consumption of onions in food.
“Non-Application of Mind”: Court Observations
The bench expressed severe displeasure over the drafting and the legal foundation of the petitions. Reprimanding the lawyer, Chief Justice Surya Kant asked:
“Aadhi raat ko yeh sab petition draft karte ho kya? (Do you draft all these petitions in the middle of the night?)”
The court further observed that the petitions were a clear example of “non-application of the mind.” The bench noted that the prayers sought in the filings were inherently vague and lacked any proper legal standing.
“Next time you come up with this kind of frivolous petition, you will see what we will do,” the CJI warned.
Dismissal of Multiple Petitions
Apart from the “tamasic” energy plea, the bench dismissed four other PILs filed by the same lawyer, which included:
- A plea seeking regulation of allegedly harmful content in alcohol and tobacco products.
- A petition seeking directions for the mandatory registration of properties.
- A plea for guidelines regarding the declaration of classical languages.
The court stated that the filings reflected poor drafting and were “baseless.” While the Chief Justice noted that he would have considered imposing “exemplary costs” on the petitioner for wasting judicial time, he refrained from doing so only because the petitioner is a member of the legal profession.
