HC refuses to restore PIL on allotment of plots to judges'

The Bombay High Court today refused to restore a public interest litigation which alleged irregularities in the allotment of land for two housing societies of judges in the suburban Bandra-Kurla Complex.
Former journalist and activist Ketan Tirodkar had sought restoration of his PIL challenging allotment of the plots for the proposed Siddhant and Nyay Sagar societies.
The Nyay Sagar plot was meant to rehabilitate the persons displaced due to public projects, while the other plot was reserved for a subordinate court building and staff quarters. But these reservations were lifted by the government while making the allotment.
The division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice R V More had dismissed Tirodkar's PIL in October 2012 as he failed to appear for the hearing on several occasions.

He then filed an application seeking restoration of the PIL, but failed to appear even this time.
"The PIL was dismissed due to the petitioner's absence despite given time on several occasions. Even today the petitioner is not present. Hence we do not feel the need to entertain this application," the court said.
A PIL on the same issue by another activist, Nitin Deshpande, was also dismissed in November last year, with the High Court observing that Maharashtra government had followed the required norms and procedures in the allotment.