Constitution of India

— Arts. 32 and 226 — PIL — Maintainability — Standing/Locus standi — Bona fides/genuine public interest of applicant — Necessity of — Persons acting at behest of other persons — Admissibility of applications filed by such applicants — Imposition of exemplary costs on such applicants — Held, a person acting bona fide alone can approach the court in public interest — Such a remedy is not open to an unscrupulous person who acts, in fact, for someone else — Though in exceptional cases, court may still examine the issue having regard to the serious nature of the public cause and likely public injury, by appointing amicus curiae, but court would under no circumstances do so with assistance of a doubtful public interest litigant — On facts, applicant found to have acted on behest of party with private interest in the dispute — Conduct of applicant strongly deprecated and though application considered on merits, having been found meritless, dismissed with exemplary costs of Rs. 1 lakh — Costs directed to be utilised for preservation of forests in State concerned, (2006) 5 SCC 28-A

Environment Protection and Pollution Control

Forests

— Forest land — Determination if land is forest land by using satellite imagery — Technology to be employed — Held, it is not necessary that the very latest technology be used, as long as the technology employed is adequate to make an accurate assessment of the question at hand, and is applied consistently, (2006) 5 SCC 28-B

Constitution of India

— Arts. 32 and 226 — PIL — High Powered Committee/Expert body appointed by Court to assist Court in dealing with PIL — Powers of such body — Power to question bona fides of applicant bringing PIL — Held, having regard to nature of duties assigned and responsibility placed upon CEC, it is the duty of CEC to point out facts relevant to determining bona fides of any applicant, (2006) 5 SCC 28-C