PIL in Bombay HC for declaring Hazare's fast as 'illegal'

On the eve of Anna Hazare's fast against the "weak" Lok Pal Bill tabled by the government in Parliament, a PIL was today filed in the Bombay High Court seeking it to be declared as "illegal and unconstitutional".

The petition filed by Mangaleshwar Tripathi, a social worker, also seeks court's direction to Hazare and his supporters to ensure that they do not break any law and restrain them from turning the agitation into a political matter.

"Hazare through such fasts and 'Jail Bharo aandolans' is exerting undue pressure on the government. The Lok Pal Bill is currently under debate and such actions of Hazare are highly unconstitutional and subversive to the principle of democracy," the petition states.

The petition also seeks for Hazare to be restrained from making any statement against any political party.

"If such actions are allowed and encouraged then it would tear the democracy of our country and will lead to complete chaos and anarchy. It is highly wrong if a group of persons who have no electoral mandate are allowed to force the government and elected representatives to accept their version of a law," the petition claims.

Tripathi, who is the president of a social outfit "Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Parishad", said he would mention the matter before the vacation judge tomorrow.