Allahabad High Court
ATI PICHHADA EKIKARAN MAHAABHIYANversusSTATE OF U.P. AND 6 OTHERS
- Decided
Holding
A petition seeking benefit for members of a society is not a public interest litigation and cannot be entertained as such.
Summary
The petitioner-society filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court seeking a direction to the State of Uttar Pradesh to issue a Scheduled Caste certificate to the Prajapati caste of the Shilpkar community. The petition was presented as a public interest litigation, but the court observed that the relief sought was for the benefit of the society's own members. The court examined whether a society can invoke the PIL jurisdiction when the cause of action primarily advances its own interests. It held that such a petition does not qualify as a public interest litigation and therefore cannot be entertained under that category. Consequently, the petition was dismissed, with the court indicating that the society may pursue appropriate legal remedies in accordance with the law.
Issues considered
- Whether a petition filed by a society for the benefit of its own members can be classified as a public interest litigation.
Subjects
- public interest litigation
- PIL
- caste certificate
- society
- standing
- Uttar Pradesh
- legal standing
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL) No. - 2231 of 2026
Ati Pichhada Ekikaran Mahaabhiyan
.....Petitioner(s)
Versus
State Of U.P. And 6 Others
.....Respondent(s)
Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Deepak Prajapati, Ramesh Prajapati,
Suresh Kumar Maurya
Counsel for Respondent(s) : A.K. Goyal, A.C.S.C.
Chief Justice's Court
HON'BLE ARUN BHANSALI, CHIEF JUSTICE
HON'BLE KSHITIJ SHAILENDRA, J.
1. This petition, purportedly in public interest, has been filed by the
petitioner-society seeking direction to the authorities to issue scheduled
caste certificate to 'Prajapati Caste' belonging to 'Shilpkar Community' in
the State of U.P.
2. A perusal of the petition reveals that the purpose of filing of the present
petition is for the benefit of members of the petitioner-society.
3. Filing of a PIL by a society seeking benefit for its members cannot be
termed as a public interest litigation and, therefore, filing of the petition in
the present form, cannot be countenanced.
4. Consequently, the petition is dismissed, leaving it open for the
petitioner-society to take appropriate proceedings in accordance with law.
(Kshitij Shailendra,J.) (Arun Bhansali,CJ.)
September 18, 2026
RK/AKShukla
Digitally signed by :-
RAJESH KUMAR
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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