Advocate Vishal Tiwari, Supreme Court
"What Is Your Motive?": Supreme Court Slams Advocate Vishal Tiwari While Dismissing His PIL Seeking Tourists' Safety
|The Court said that Tiwari had only filed the PIL seeking to gain publicity and that he did not intend to serve any public cause.
The Supreme Court today dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Vishal Tiwari, who sought improved safety measures for tourists visiting hilly and remote regions of India in the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed.
A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, questioning the intent behind the petition, asked, “What is your purpose? What is your motive? Who is inciting you to file this kind of PILs?”
Advocate Vishal Tiwari, appearing in person, responded, “This is only for the safety [of the public].”
Justice Kant expressed scepticism, continuing, “You don’t understand any sensitivity? You don’t realise your responsibility? You want to become the second member of this Bar known for these kinds of PILs?”
Tiwari attempted to clarify, saying, “We are not claiming any directions against the Government.” But the Bench pressed further. “Please read... on what basis are you verifying this ground?” Justice Kant asked.
Tiwari argued that this was a serious and unprecedented incident. “This is the first instance, my lord, when tourists have been targeted. We are only focused on their safety and nothing else,” he said.
Justice Kant, however, was unconvinced. “I think you are inviting some order with exemplary costs,” he remarked.
In its final order, the court dismissed the petition stating, “The petitioner is indulging in one or the other purported PILs which are primarily aimed to gain publicity with no intent to serve the public cause. Dismissed.”
Cause Title: Vishal Tiwari v. Union of India (W.P.(C) No. 458/2025)