New Delhi, Sep 24 (TIWN) The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to conduct immediate inspection and take action against owners of hookah bars operating illegally and without any statutory licence in south Delhi, after finding several discrepancies in the petition.

A division bench of the high court presided by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan while refusing to entertain the petition said, “The present petition deserved to be dismissed with a heavy cost though keeping in view the present pandemic situation, the same is not being imposed.”  After the court refused to entertain the plea, the counsel for the petitioner sought permission to withdraw the said plea, the permission so was granted and the plea was dismissed as withdrawn.  The plea had sought directions to the civic bodies and Delhi government to immediately close and seal such premises if found in contravention of the laws and submit an action taken report vis-a-vis the progress and list of the illegal hookah bars running in their jurisdiction.