Mumbai: At a time when courts are burdened with thousands of serious pending cases, the Bombay High Court has highlighted how personal prestige battles can strain the judicial system.
Expressing concern over the wastage of valuable judicial time due to ego-driven disputes, the court deferred a defamation suit filed by a 90-year-old woman for nearly 20 years, pushing the matter to the year 2046.
The order was passed by a bench headed by Justice Jitendra Jain. The case dates back to 2017, when Tariniben Desai, a senior citizen, filed a defamation suit against another elderly individual, Kilkil Raj Bansali. The court observed that the dispute between the two, both in the twilight of their lives, appeared to stem largely from personal ego.
The bench noted that such personal conflicts consume court time and hinder the hearing of urgent and serious matters. It also expressed dissatisfaction that earlier efforts to resolve the issue amicably had failed.
The court had previously suggested that both parties could settle the dispute by offering unconditional apologies to each other. However, Desai chose to pursue the case instead of accepting the suggestion.
Taking a firm stand, the court stated that the matter would not be taken up for hearing for the next 20 years, making it clear that it would not be listed before 2046.
The bench also clarified that no priority would be given to the case despite the petitioner being a "super senior citizen." Emphasising the need to prevent misuse of judicial time, the court indicated that cases driven by personal ego would not be allowed to disrupt the functioning of the justice system.
The ruling sends a clear message against filing unnecessary litigation and underscores the judiciary's focus on prioritising cases that genuinely require urgent attention.