GIRISH BHARADWAJ Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned advocate Mr. Venkatesh P. Dalwai for the petitioner, learned Advocate General Mr. K. Shashi Kiran Shetty along with learned Additional Government Advocate Smt. Niloufer Akbar and learned advocate Mr. D. Manthan for respondent Nos.1 to 4.

(2.) The public interest petitioner herein is an advocate enrolled before the Karnataka State Bar Council, who, by filing the present public interest petition, seeks to raise an issue about the decision on part of the respondent-State Government in directing and thereby compelling the Public Prosecutors to withdraw the criminal cases in breach of Sec. 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

(3.) It is pleaded that the public interest petition is filed for the benefit of the society at large especially in the interest of victims of crime, the cases in respect of whom are sought to be withdrawn illegally by the prosecution. It is stated that since such persons are scattered in the State and are uninformed about the directions in the impugned order for mass withdrawal of cases by the prosecution, they are unable to have ready and easy access to the court. The petitioner has stated that in that light and in view that a serious public interest concern informs the subject matter, the petition is filed.