The petitions seeking to oppose the move to withdraw prosecution proceedings against actor Mohanlal in the illegal ivory possession case were rejected by a trial court recently on the grounds that the petitioners lacked locus standi to be heard.
Dismissing the petitions, Anju Cletus, Judicial First Class Magistrate 3, Perumbavoor, held that no person was enabled to file a complaint on an offence under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 just because he was a member of the public. A complaint under the Act can be made only by a person specially authorised for the purpose.
“The petitioners, who have no locus standi to file a complaint with respect to the commission of any offence under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, have no locus standi to be heard in a petition to withdraw the prosecution under the said Act,” the court held.
