The petition has been filed by Smt.Shanuben Babubhai Dantani as Party-in-Person. Notice has been issued in the petition after hearing the Party-in-Person.
Today, when the matter is taken up, Mr.Hardik Raval, learned advocate for M/s.H.L.Patel Advocates, learned counsel for the respondent - Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, submits that the affidavit-in-reply is ready and shall be filed in the Registry, by tomorrow. A copy thereof has been handed over to the Party-in-Person.
Upon being asked by this Court whether she is aware of the averments made in the petition, or could understand the contents of the affidavit-in-reply, the Party-in-Person has submitted that she is illiterate and does not know what has been written in the petition as well as the affidavit-in-reply, therefore, she is not in a position to understand the contents of the same.
As the Party-in-Person is does not even know the contents of the petition that has been filed on her behalf, leave alone the contents of the affidavit-in-reply filed by the respondent-Corporation, and cannot afford to engage an advocate, it would not be in the fitness of things or in the interest of justice, to allow this situation to continue. The Party-in-Person has, therefore, been asked by this Court whether she is agreeable to availing of the benefits of legal aid. She has expressed her willingness to this.
Therefore, the matter be referred to the State Legal Services Authority for appointing a learned advocate to appear on behalf of Smt.Shanuben Babubhai Dantani, the petitioner of this petition. The Registry shall make available the entire set of papers to the State Legal Services Authority.
List the matter on 23.04.2012.
The Party-in-Person has been apprised of the next date of hearing.
(Smt.
Abhilasha Kumari, J.) (sunil) Top