The Bombay High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought a fixed time limit for the hearing and disposal of cases involving senior citizens. The bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Arif Doctor, deemed the PIL as poorly researched and noted that the relevant government departments were not made respondents in the case.
Describing the petition as more like an article, the court pointed out that the prayer in the PIL was too general in nature. The retired Army officer who filed the PIL highlighted that despite previous instructions from the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the Bombay High Court itself, senior citizens were not being granted priority in legal matters. The petitioner argued that this lack of priority led to grave injustice and distress for senior citizens.
The plea specifically requested that all court cases involving senior citizens be finalized within 180 days from the date of filing, while quasi-judicial and administrative matters should be resolved within 90 days. Additionally, the petitioner urged the assignment of a legal aid advocate by a judge to spare senior citizens from the humiliation often faced by legal aid applicants.
However, in response to the court's remarks, the petitioner sought permission to withdraw the plea and file a revised one. The court granted the petitioner's request to withdraw the PIL.
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