SC declines hearing on PIL by lawyer against polygamy, asks him to pay pending cost first

The Supreme Court Friday declined to hear on priority a petition filed by an advocate against the practice of polygamy among Muslims, saying he should first deposit a fine that was due.

When the petition filed by Asok Pande came up for hearing, a bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur reminded the advocate that he was imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 by the apex court recently for filing a plea and until he deposits that amount with the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, his matter would not be heard.

A bench of the apex court had on October 22 dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Pande and had imposed the cost on him for seeking a direction that legal marriageable age for men should be brought down from 21 to 18 years.

"Have you paid the cost," the bench, also comprising justices S A Nazeer and Deepak Gupta, asked the lawyer who said he would do it soon.

The bench then said, "We will hear you only after you deposit the cost imposed on you."