Samarjeet Chatterjee vs. Secretary
AI Summary
The Supreme Court has dismissed a Special Leave Petition filed against a High Court order in a Public Interest Litigation, labeling the SLP as 'vexatious' and imposing a cost of Rs. 25,000 on the petitioner. This ruling underscores the judiciary's firm stance against frivolous litigation, ensuring judicial resources are not misused.
Case Identifiers
Petitioner's Counsel
Advocates on Record
eCourtsIndia AITM
Brief Facts Summary
Samarjeet Chatterjee filed a Special Leave Petition (Civil) in the Supreme Court challenging a final judgment and order dated August 9, 2024, passed by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay at Nagpur in CACAO No. 1039/2023, which arose from Public Interest Litigation No. 06 of 2023. The petitioner also filed interlocutory applications for condonation of delay and exemption from filing a certified copy of the impugned judgment. The Supreme Court condoned the delay but ultimately dismissed the Special Leave Petition, finding it to be vexatious in nature, and imposed a cost of Rs. 25,000/- on the petitioner.
Timeline of Events
Public Interest Litigation No. 06 of 2023 was filed.
High Court of Judicature at Bombay at Nagpur passed an order in CACAO No. 1039/2023 in PIL No. 06 of 2023.
Special Leave Petition (Civil) Diary No. 13645/2025 was filed in the Supreme Court.
Interlocutory Applications for Condonation of Delay and Exemption from filing C/C of the impugned judgment were filed.
The Supreme Court heard the matter, condoned the delay, and dismissed the Special Leave Petition with costs.
Key Factual Findings
The order impugned is the one passed by the High Court in CACAO No. 1039/2023 in Public Interest Litigation No. 06 of 2023 on 09.08.2024.
Source: Current Court Finding/Recited from Lower Court Judgment
The present special leave petition is vexatious in nature.
Source: Current Court Finding
Primary Legal Issues
Secondary Legal Issues
Petitioner's Arguments
The order indicates that the learned counsel for the petitioner was heard, presumably presenting arguments for the admission of the Special Leave Petition and against it being deemed vexatious. Specific points of argument are not detailed in the order.
Respondent's Arguments
The order states 'UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R', implying that respondents' counsel may have been present, but no specific arguments made by them are summarized in the order.
Court's Reasoning
The Supreme Court condoned the delay in filing the Special Leave Petition. However, upon hearing the counsel for the petitioner, the Court found the Special Leave Petition to be 'vexatious in nature'. Due to this finding, the Court concluded that the petition deserved to be dismissed and proceeded to do so with costs.
- Emphasis on curbing vexatious litigation
- Judicial efficiency and resource conservation
Impugned Orders
Specific Directions
- 1.Delay condoned.
- 2.The special leave petition is dismissed as vexatious in nature.
- 3.A cost of Rs.25,000/- is to be deposited by the petitioner before Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA) within two weeks from today.
- 4.Pending application(s), if any, shall stand closed.
Precedential Assessment
Persuasive (Procedural)
This order reinforces the Supreme Court's established practice of dismissing Special Leave Petitions found to be vexatious and imposing costs to deter frivolous litigation. While not a landmark ruling establishing a new legal principle, it serves as a strong reminder of judicial policy against abuse of process.
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Order Issued After Hearing
Purpose:
Case Registered
Listed On:
16 Apr 2025
Original Order Copy
Get a certified copy of this order
Order Text
ITEM NO.51 COURT NO.9 SECTION IX
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) Diary No(s). 13645/2025
[Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 09-08-2024 in CACAO No. 1039/2023 in Public Interest Litigation No. 06 of 2023 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay at Nagpur]
SAMARJEET CHATTERJEE Petitioner(s)
VERSUS
SECRETARY & ORS. Respondent(s)
IA No. 84744/2025 - CONDONATION OF DELAY IN FILING IA No. 84742/2025 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT
Date : 16-04-2025 This matter was called on for hearing today.
CORAM :
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE BELA M. TRIVEDI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRASANNA B. VARALE
For Petitioner(s) :
Mr. JN Singh, Adv. Mr. Shashank Shekhar, AOR
For Respondent(s) :
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R
1. Delay condoned.
of 2023 on 09.08.2024
2. Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioner.
3. The order impugned and which is challenged before this Court, is the order passed by the High Court in CACAO No. 1039/2023 in Public Interest Litigation No. 06
4. The present special leave petition being vexatious in nature, the same deserves to be dismissed and is accordingly, dismissed with a cost of Rs.25,000/- to be deposited by the petitioner before Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA) within two weeks from today.
5. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand closed.
(NISHA KHULBEY) (MAMTA RAWAT) SENIOR PERSONAL ASSISTANT ASSISTANT REGISTRAR