PANAJI
The State has raised a preliminary objection to the eligibility of the petitioner in a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging aspects of government’s ‘Mhaje Ghar’ scheme before the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
During the hearing on Tuesday, Advocate General Devidas Pangam contended that the petitioner Kashinath Shetye is a government employee and therefore not competent to file a PIL against the State.
He argued that as per rules, a serving government official cannot institute a PIL against the government. On this ground, the State sought dismissal of the petition.
Taking note of the objection, the High Court adjourned the hearing till April 1 and granted time to Shetye to file a written reply addressing the preliminary issue raised by the State.
Speaking to the media later, Shetye said the objection raised by the government was not tenable. He cited a 2012 Supreme Court judgment in the Vijay Shankar Pandey case, claiming that the court had clarified that a government employee could approach the court in his individual capacity as a citizen.
