HC imposes Rs 50k fine for frivolous plea

Furious that a petitioner filed a plea filled with wild allegations on the transfer of nurses but without any substantiation to back them, the Madras High Court threw out the case and imposed a cost of Rs 50,000. While dismissing the plea, the division bench that heard the case observed that no mercy would be shown to litigants who raise allegations without an iota of evidence.

Hearing a petition moved by the Tamil Nadu Health Workers Welfare Association, a division bench led by Justice S Manikumar and comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad said, “I have no mercy. There should not be any mercy for those making scurrilous allegations without an iota of evidence.”

Karthik, the secretary of the association, charged that though the model code of conduct is in force ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in April 18, the Health Secretary had resorted to transferring a large number of nurses, allegedly without following due procedures.

He submitted that the transfers were being done in such a hurry, without even offering the nurses the joining time as prescribed. He also alleged in his petition that the Health Secretary had received huge amounts as bribe while ordering such transfers, and sought the court to direct the State to hold an inquiry into the alleged transfer scam.

However, the bench noted that the allegations made were wild in nature, with no substantial evidence to back it. It added that the new Health Secretary, Beela Rajesh, had joined just a few weeks ago and imputing allegations against her based on mere hearsay was unjustifiable. Hence, the bench said, the petition ought to be dismissed with exorbitant fine.

When the advocate appearing for the petitioner association pleaded for leniency, the bench led by Justice Manikumar said, “I am not so kind. That is the only problem with me. I have no mercy.” It then imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the petitioner.