TNN

Lucknow, Apr 7: Chief standing counsel (CSC) of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court, Devendra Upadhyay, on Monday, stressed that PIL challenging Varun Gandhi's detention by the state government under NSA was filed here only for gaining cheap popularity. Therefore, owing to the court's reluctance to entertain the PIL, the petitioner was requested to withdraw it. The bench comprising Justice U K Dhaon and Justice Satish Chandra, accordingly, dismissed the PIL, holding it not maintainable.

A local lawyer, S C Srivastava, had filed the PIL seeking quashing of Varun's detention and checking misuse of NSA in the state. CSC, Upadhyay submitted that Varun had already challenged his detention before supreme court. So, the PIL was misconceived and not maintainable. He further pleaded that the petitioner did not mention a single instance of misuse of the NSA in the state. He argued that a writ can not be issued on mere allegation.