Nagpur: In a significant ruling, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has clarified that citizens cannot enter government offices or meet officials at will and must follow prescribed procedures while doing so. The court stated that such restrictions are necessary to maintain order and ensure smooth public administration.
The observation came during the hearing of a petition filed by Kishor Chakole of Nagpur, who had challenged an order by Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) declaring him persona non grata — an “unwelcome person.” Under the October 7, 2024 order, Chakole was barred from entering WCL’s headquarters and other premises for three years due to alleged misconduct.
A division bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Rajnish Vyas dismissed Chakole’s plea, upholding the company’s action. The court noted that the petitioner’s repeated and arbitrary visits to the office had disrupted work and caused undue stress to officials, amounting to harassment.
The bench emphasized that fundamental rights are not absolute and are subject to reasonable restrictions, particularly when public administration is at stake. It further observed that Chakole’s visits were not driven by genuine grievances but intended to tarnish the reputation of government officers through frequent complaints.
The court clarified that while the petitioner still retains the right to file complaints, he must use the available online grievance mechanisms instead of visiting the office in person.
The ruling reinforces the principle that access to government offices must be regulated, balancing citizens’ rights with administrative efficiency and workplace decorum.
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