Source: barandbench.com
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was dismissed by Madras High Court that sought directions for continuing the awards given by Central Institute of Classical Tamil to encourage Tamil scholars.
The institute used to give ₹10 lakh award yearly to the people to encourage Tamil scholars. It was given out by the fund created by former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, before it was discontinued.
After the matter came up, Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee orally observed that these are not matters where the Court can be asked to step in. He also opined that there was a political angle to the matter.
"How can we do these things? If you want privately do it, do it. But don't ask the court to do this. We have much more important things to do," he remarked.
The Bench of Chief Justice Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy dismissed the matter, after observing that it involved a plea for a government-controlled centre to present awards on the birth anniversary of a former Chief Minister of the State.
"These are matters in which courts should not be mixed.It is entirely a political decision and the petition indeed has been filed on political considerations at a time close to elections," the Court opined in its order.
Whether or not a particular award has been continued or whether it should be instituted are matters for the private consideration of the Institute's authorities, even if such authorities are controlled by the government, the Bench said.
The petitioner, a practicing advocate, was aggrieved by the discontinuance of the award. Another Bench of the High Court had issued notice in the plea last December, after taking note that the petitioner's representation on the issue had not been replied to by the authorities concerned.