The Supreme Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a customs officer seeking an investigation into the 2019 incident at Kolkata airport involving Rujira Banerjee, wife of Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, and her sister Maneka Gambhir.
The apex court questioned the locus standi of the petitioner, customs officer Raj Kumar Barthwal, and imposed a deposit requirement of Rs 10 lakh for the case to proceed.
SC Questions Locus Standi of Customs Officer
The PIL alleged that Bengal police obstructed customs officers from performing their duties when they attempted to search Rujira Banerjee and her sister upon their arrival from Bangkok. The Supreme Court, however, raised concerns over why a customs officer, rather than the customs department or the central government, had approached the court.
Justices Dipankar Datta and M.M. Sundresh directed Barthwal to deposit Rs 10 lakh as a prerequisite to continue the case, stating that the amount would be forfeited if he failed to argue his case effectively. Following this directive, Barthwal withdrew the petition.
Legal Standpoint on the PIL Dismissal
Rujira Banerjee’s counsel, Sanjay Basu, emphasized that the court’s directive underscored its cautious stance against frivolous PILs that lack substantial legal standing. The court’s decision reflects an increasing scrutiny over PILs to ensure they serve genuine public interest and are not misused for personal or political motives.
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