The Supreme Court recently directed a petitioner who had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to submit his Income Tax Returns for the past five years, along with an affidavit explaining the sources of his income.

The direction came after the Court observed that the petition appeared to be frivolous and was filed more as a publicity exercise than in genuine public interest.

The bench comprising, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vijay Bishno observed,

“Before imposing exemplary costs on the petitioner-in-person for filing a frivolous petition, purportedly in public interest but in reality a publicity stunt, we direct him to place on record his Income Tax Returns for the past five years along with an affidavit disclosing the source of his income,”

The petition was filed by one Sabu Steephen against the Election Commission of India. The petitioner appeared as part-in-person.

Case : Sabu Steephen v Union of India WP(c) 1209/2025