"Don't exhaust yourself": Calcutta High Court to Suvendu Adhikari on PIL alleging banned students union in Jadavpur University

The Calcutta High Court on Monday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari, alleging that a banned students' organisation was operating in the Jadavpur University [Suvendu Adhikari vs State of West Bengal]..When the case came up for hearing, a division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya suggested that Adhikari, who presently has several other petitions filed by him pending before the Court, not "exhaust" himself. "Please do not exhaust yourself," the Chief Justice told Adhikari's counsel.The Court then said that it was going to dismiss the plea on the ground that it was filed by relying on newspaper reports. However, on a request made by Adhikari's counsel, the bench allowed the withdrawal of the petition..In his PIL, Adhikari said that a banned organisation called the "Revolutionary Students Union Federation" has been operating in the heart of Kolkata city from the premises of Jadavpur University, and working against the interests of India. The Jadavpur University has been in the news recently after a first-year student died by suicide, allegedly due to ragging by seniors."We have come here to protect India. This banned organisation is threatening the sovereignty, integrity and unity of India. Public functionaries are being attacked," Adhikari's counsel submitted today. The bench, however, pointed out that it has read in the newspapers that action has already been taken on the issue. "We have read that appropriate action has been initiated by the Police authorities. Since this petition is solely based on newspaper reports, we dismiss it," the bench initially ordered. However, it later allowed the counsel the withdraw the plea. .While dealing with a PIL concerning Jadavpur University filed by another individual, the Court further deprecated the tendency to file cases on each and every single issue. "In the morning we read in the newspapers about an issue, by next day a PIL is filed and an urgent hearing is sought at 2 PM. What kind of practice is this? Please stop multiplying the litigation. Ultimately, we won't be able to do anything then," the Chief Justice remarked orally. This remark came while dealing with a PIL filed by an "activist" who claimed to be working for the welfare of students. Notably, several PILs have been filed regarding the "state of affairs" at Jadavpur University following the student's death. Last week, the Court opined that it wished to hear the students on the matter and hoped that things would improve soon.