HC junks PIL plea against cafeterias, shops in walkways of malls

Court slams petitioner for vague, sweeping allegations

The Madras High Court on Saturday termed as “rubbish” a public interest litigation petition which sought penal action against shopping malls where cafeterias and shops had been put up even on walkways and other common spaces meant for visitor movement. It said the petition was a classic example of how the PIL jurisdiction was abused by some and how a venerated system had become extortionist. Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy made the observations while dismissing the PIL petition preferred by R. Varaaki.