Coming down heavily on Team Anna’s agitation plans on Lokpal Bill, the Bombay High Court on Dec. 23 said it can’t allow “parallel canvassing” when Parliament is debating the issue, observing that what may be a “satyagraha” for the group could be a “nuisance” for others. The court made these stinging remarks while rejecting Team Anna’s petition for a direction to Maharashtra government for allotting MMRDA ground for free or at concessional rates for Anna Hazare’s fast due to start on December 27.
Refusing to interfere in the matter, a division bench of Justices P B Majmudar and Mridula Bhatkar said it cannot ask government authorities (MMRDA) to grant exemption to Jagrutagrik Manch, affiliated to Hazare’s India Against Corruption. The court also said it cannot come to the conclusion if the agitation
was in public interest or politically motivated.
Disapproving of the agitation despite the Lokpal Bill being tabled in Parliament, Justice Majmudar asked, “How is country’s interest involved? We are a democratic set up. We have elected a government. Wouldn’t your agitation interfere in the functioning of Parliament? The bill will be debated in Parliament where our elected representatives will plead our case.”
“Under which law are you (petitioner) asking for exemption? It might be Satyagraha for you but for some other factions it might be a nuisance,” the Court said.