Summary of Judgement
The Bombay High Court dismissed a PIL filed by "Crimeophobia," a criminology firm led by Mr. Snehil Dhall, citing it as an example of frivolous litigation that wastes judicial resources. The petition sought extensive and unrelated reliefs, such as forming an Anti-Organized Crime Unit, canceling property leases in Aarey Colony, and shutting down a UNICEF Dairy Institute. The court criticized the petition's numerous demands, which ranged from local issues in Aarey Colony to matters involving international commissions. The bench emphasized that such unfounded petitions consume valuable judicial time that should be directed towards genuine cases.
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Introduction and Context of the PIL:
- The PIL was filed by "Crimeophobia" through its founder, Mr. Snehil Dhall, claiming to be a public interest petition.
- The petition was presented as an "expert opinion" based on Mr. Dhall’s credentials as a criminologist.
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Overview of the Reliefs Sought:
- The petition contained 11 primary prayers and 13 interim prayers covering issues from the establishment of an Anti-Organized Crime Unit to requests for creating a "Bombay Cave Temple Commission."
- Additional demands included property cancellations in Aarey Colony, replacement of a UNICEF Dairy Institute, and formation of various state and international commissions.
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Court's Observations and Critique:
- The court noted that the petition lacked factual or legal grounding, highlighting the unrelated and overreaching nature of the demands.
- It emphasized that such petitions divert attention from more deserving matters, leading to unnecessary consumption of judicial time.
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Detailed Content of the Prayers:
- The prayers included forming anti-crime units, revoking leases, establishing religious commissions, and even seeking costs for research and development related to procuring historical books.
- Several prayers also addressed regional and international governance issues far removed from the core subject matter.
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Final Verdict:
- The High Court dismissed the PIL, reiterating the need to curb frivolous litigation that clutters the judicial process.
- The court’s judgment serves as a warning against filing petitions without proper legal or factual basis, especially when they span an unwarranted scope.
Case Title: Crimeophobia – A Criminology Firm Through its founder – Criminologist Snehil Dhall Versus Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development and Ors.
Citation: 2024 LawText (BOM) (8) 193
Case Number: PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO.49 OF 2024
Date of Decision: 2024-08-19