In order to counter the remarks on the PIL and its effect on governance by another bench, The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that all public suits are “not bad and cannot be thrown out lock, stock and barrel”.

“It is stated that about Rs 1,400 crore has been wasted in cleaning river Yamuna. Has there been any study conducted to find out the areas in which PILs have had positive effect and the areas where these PILs have not had the desired effect?” asked the Bench referring indirectly to a recent reference by Justice Markandey Katju’s remark during the hearing of a PIL seeking directions for road safety measures on the national highways.

Some effect

Justices Katju and Sema had remarked, “For the past 25 years the Supreme Court is trying to clean the Yamuna. Under the garb of judicial orders, the government has spent about Rs 1,400 crore. The condition of the river, however, has worsened and it was a stinking drain now”. “I went there to perform the last rites of my mother and the stink at its ghat was unbearable,” an anguished Judge had observed.

However, on Tuesday the CJI’s Bench said, “We cannot say that PILs are bad. These PILs have tremendous effect.” The apex court’s perspective on PILs came during the hearing of the PILs relating to occupational hazards for employees of thermal power stations across the country.