PRAMILA NESARGI Vs. UNION OF INDIA UOI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The question raised in this present Writ Petition concern's the legality and propriety of allowing a part of the Indian Air Force area to a commercial establishment like the third respondent, A.B. Corporation Limited (hereinafter in short the "the Company") on rental basis for conducting certain events connected with a purely commercial venture, namely, the "Miss World Beauty Pageant, 1996"

(2.) The present Writ Petition has been filed as a public interest litigation. The petitioner, apart from being a practicing Advocate of this court and sitting MLA, is an active social worker.

(3.) The third respondent is a company incorporated and registered 'under the Companies Act, 1956. It is holding the 1996 beauty pageant at Bangalore. As is evident from the programme announced by it (Annexure A), the events of the pageant have already commenced from 11.11.1996 and are to continue till 24.11.1996. As per the said programme, three of the events namely, Carnival, Children's Party and Coronation Ball were to take place at the grounds. Hotel Windsor Manor and the Palace grounds. But subsequently, as per the permission accorded by the second respondent, it was permitted to be held at the sports field at Head Quarters Training Command, Indian Air Force, Hebbal. It is the grant of this permission which is being assailed herein on various constitutional and legal grounds.