The Supreme Court has permitted the Centre to provide heightened security cover to Mukesh Am-bani and his family members in Mumbai even as it set aside proceedings arising from apublic interest litigation (PIL) challenging the grant of the privilege that is pending before the Tripura high court.

“We see no reason for the proceedings, in this case, to continue before the Tripura high court...” a bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana observed while quashing the PIL proceedings on the ground that the petitioner had locus standi to question the cover provided to the family.

The bench, which included justices Krishna Murari Hima Kohli, passed the order while allowing an appeal filed by the Centre challenging Tripura high court order to place before it details pertain-ing to the security cover for Mukesh and his family.

On June 29, the top court stayed the high court order that had sought a report in a sealed cover on the “Z plus” security provided to Mukesh Ambani and the VIP security cover provided to his wife and family members.

The interim relief was granted after the Union government rushed to the top court challenging the June 21impugned order passed by the high court on a PIL filed by“social activist” Bikash Saha. The high court had earlier asked the ministry of home affairs to depute a senior officer who would present himself before it when the matter was taken up again. Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, who had appeared for the Union government, told the court that the high court had acted beyond its jurisdiction

In its special leave petition before the apex court, the Centre had assailed the petitioner saying he was a “meddlesome interloper” and had selectively filed the PIL against the security provided to the Ambanis but not the others.

Further, the Centre pointed out that no cause of action arose in Tripura as the Ambani were not residents of that state.