MP plans law to filter 'unnecessary' litigation

The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday tabled a Bill that would make it difficult to file "irritating" litigation against a single person. The Madhya Pradesh Tang Karne Wali Mukadmebaji (Nivaran) Vidheyak Bill-2015 (Prevention of Irritating Legal Practices Bill-2015) is aimed at curbing a "growing tendency" and "habit" of filing "irritating" litigation.

The House is set to debate the Bill on Wednesday. If the Bill is passed, such a litigant will have to go through a complicated and elaborate procedure to seek permission from a court before filing a petition. The court will admit such a case only after seeking the advice of the advocate-general. Activists and legal experts have called it an effort of the state government to stifle constitutional rights.

The state government also tabled the Madhya Pradesh Audyogik Suraksha Bill-2015 to provide security to industries in the state. In 2013, the state had constituted its own industrial security force. In the first phase, 1,986 posts were created. One battalion was posted in Rewa and another in Singrauli.

The state had received demands from various companies - including Northern Coalfields Limited, Essar, Jaypee group, Oman Oil Refinery and others - for such a force. They had demanded 2,400 personnel.