The Supreme Court refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to officially declare Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as the "National Son" of India.

The Court dismissed the plea, labelling the petitioner "incorrigible" for repeatedly filing meritless cases.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered, "The petitioner raised almost identical grounds. On 5th January 2024, the liberty was granted to approach the appropriate authority...He thereafter filed another writ petition...again on the same set of facts...he was advised regarding the fact that the issue does not fall within the demeanour of the Court...Consequently, he withdrew the petition. The incorrigible petitioner has again filed this writ petition purportedly in the public interest on the same facts. It seems to us that the Petitioner is... who has filed the petition to gain popularity...No case is made out. The registry is directed not to entertain any writ petition that will be filed by the Petitioner claiming to be in the public interest."


The petitioner, Pinakpani Mohanty, appeared in person and requested several official declarations from the apex court, including: granting Netaji the title of "National Son", and giving formal credit to the Azad Hind Fauj (INA) for securing India’s independence from British rule in 1947.

"Aapki ye petition kisne draft ki hai?...kya aapne unko btaya tha ye phele aapki dismiss ho chuki hai?...ye kya koi season lga hua hai ki har saal file kroge?...pichle baar bhi dismiss kia tha", CJI asked the Petitioner.

Petitioner said that this is the last time he is filing the PIL.

The CJI noted that a nearly identical plea by the same petitioner had been dismissed previously. "Hum aapki entry ban kr denge Supreme Court me", the bench warned Mohanty.

Accordingly, the matter was dismissed.

Cause Title: Pinakpani Mohanty v. Union of India [W.P.(C) No. 295/2026]

CJI Surya KantJustice Joymalya BagchiSupreme Court

Aastha Kaushik