HIMAL CHAND Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The civil writ petition has been filed by making the following substantive prayers:-

(2.) However, in the headnote of the petition, it is stated that the petition is in the form of a public interest litigation for issuance of an appropriate writ or ordering a probe with regard to embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, misuse of official position, cheating, forgery etc. by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, Chandigarh (respondent No. 6) and others, who, it is stated, have not only caused loss to the public exchequer but also defrauded the Union of India (respondent No. 1); Ministry of Human Resources Development, New Delhi (respondent No. 2); Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi (respondent No. 4) and Government of Punjab, Department of Planning, Civil Secretariat, Punjab, Chandigarh (respondent No. 5) and for handing over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation for consequent action thereafter.

(3.) The petitioner, it is stated, has filed two petitions which are pending in this Court in matters relating to service law dispute between him and the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, Chandigarh (respondent No. 6). Therefore, we are of the view that the present petition is not in the nature of a public interest petition as has been labelled by the petitioner but it is in the nature of a private interest litigation where the petitioner may be wanting to settle his score with the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, Chandigarh (respondent No.6). Besides, in case there is any misappropriation, embezzlement of funds or fraud in the State exchequer, he may get an FIR registered with the police.