The Chhattisgarh High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Bilaspur Lokhit Sanskritik Seva Samiti and its office-bearers seeking immediate release of ₹20 lakh sanctioned by the state government for organizing the Malhar Mahotsav 2024-25. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Arvind Kumar Verma ruled that the plea was not in public interest but rather driven by private motives.
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The petitioners, including the president, vice-president, and members of the cultural organization, argued that although the grant was announced and sanctioned, it had not been released. The delay, they claimed, threatened the successful organization of the festival scheduled for March 29 to 31, 2025, and undermined the region's cultural heritage.
The Court noted:
“...it is a private agenda and private motive of the petitioners, which cannot be termed as a public interest litigation…”
The background reveals that on November 23, 2024, during a public visit, the Chief Minister had announced an increase in the grant for Malhar Mahotsav from ₹5 lakh to ₹20 lakh. Based on this, a formal sanction letter was issued by the Department of Culture. However, the release was held up due to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct during local body elections. Even after the code was lifted, the grant remained unreleased, leading to the filing of this PIL.
Petitioners contended that denying the funds violated their constitutional rights under Articles 14 and 19, and jeopardized the public interest and cultural value of the region. They further urged the Court to restrain the Collector from interfering in the festival's management, citing previous practice where the event was organized by the cultural committee.
However, the State opposed this, stating that the matter was not of public interest and was instead aimed at benefiting a private group. The government argued that PILs are meant to amplify the voice of the voiceless, not to further personal interests.
The Court, citing Supreme Court precedent in State of Uttaranchal v. Balwant Singh Chaufal, emphasized the need to discourage abuse of PILs:
“...time has come when genuine and bona fide public interest litigation must be encouraged whereas frivolous public interest litigation should be discouraged...”
The judgment strongly reaffirmed that:
“Abuse of process of law is essentially opposed to any public interest. One who abuses the process of law, cannot be said to serve any public interest, much less, a larger public interest.”
Ultimately, the Court ruled that the petition lacked genuine public cause, was filed for personal gain, and did not meet the criteria under Article 226 of the Constitution. As a result, the PIL was dismissed, and the security amount deposited was forfeited.
Case Details:
Case Number: WPPIL No. 41 of 2025
Case Title: Bilaspur Lokhit Sanskritik Seva Samiti, Malhar v. State Of Chhattisgarh
Date: 02.04.2025
