In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court has levied a fine of Rs 1 lakh on an aspiring politician from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for filing a petition that was deemed frivolous and laden with unfounded allegations against Municipal Commissioner G Shrikant. The court underscored the importance of handling such baseless petitions with strict measures to maintain the sanctity of judicial processes.
The bench, led by Justice Ravindra Ghuge, was presented with a petition by Naser Nahdi, who sought the transfer of Shrikant, alleging potential bias in the upcoming parliamentary elections due to the Commissioner’s extended tenure in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Despite Nahdi’s claims, it was established during the proceedings that Shrikant was not listed for transfer by the Election Commission in light of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.
Advocate CB Chaudhari, representing Commissioner Shrikant, contested the allegations vehemently, particularly the claim that Shrikant had bribed his way to retain his position with Rs 2 crores. Chaudhari called for substantial proof to back such serious accusations or alternatively proposed a steeper fine of Rs 10 lakh to dissuade groundless charges against public officers.
The government’s legal representative clarified that Shrikant’s role had been non-partisan, especially in matters concerning election duties. The court, upon inquiry, found that Nahdi had no tangible evidence to support his allegations against the Commissioner.
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Expressing dismay over Nahdi’s actions, the bench criticized the petitioner for his baseless and reckless claims, questioning his motives and the legitimacy of his grievances against Shrikant. The court remarked on the audacity of the petitioner to levy such accusations without any supporting evidence, highlighting the detrimental impact of such actions on the credibility of the legal system.
The ruling mandates Nahdi to settle the Rs 1 lakh fine within a 30-day window, with the amount earmarked for distribution among various social welfare institutions including hospitals, day care centers, orphanages, and the Advocates Association.
