Although the MP and his family have used the siren since 2017, the court said the case was “clearly influenced by political considerations" because it was presented at the beginning of the election season. On Wednesday, the Uttarakhand High Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) case challenging a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of the State, Kunwar Pranav Singh, and his family's use of a siren on his vehicle (Umesh Kumar v. State of Uttarakhand and Others)
The petitioner Umesh Kumar was also fined 50,000 by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Narayan Singh Dhanik, who said the petition was 'highly motivated by political consideration(s)' because it was filed at the start election campaign, despite the MP and his family using the siren since 2017.
"Respondent No. 6 (Kunwar Pranav Singh) and his family members, according to the petitioner, have been using siren since 2017. Despite this, the petitioner has not filed a Public Interest Litigation in the recent four years. A Public Interest Litigation has been launched against a sitting MLA only after the election season has begun "According to the ruling. As a result, this Public Interest Litigation is clearly driven by political considerations, which amounts to an abuse of the legal and judicial processes, according to the Court.
As a result, the case was dismissed, with the petitioner being ordered to deposit 50,000 in costs with the Uttarakhand High Court Bar Association Welfare Fund. The Court further ordered the Registrar (Judicial) to inform the District Magistrate of Haridwar whether the money had been deposited within the two-week deadline or not. "The District Magistrate of Haridwar is directed to ensure that, if the aforementioned money is not deposited with the Uttarakhand High Court Bar Association Welfare Fund within two weeks, he shall reclaim the said amount as land revenue arrears," the Court stated.
The petitioner was represented by Gopal K Verma, an attorney.
The respondents were represented by Additional Chief Standing Counsel Anil Kumar Bisht.