The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest litigation filed by Manohar Lal Sharma questioning the candidature of Mrs Pratibha Patil, UPA nominee for the post of the President of India.

A vacation bench comprising Justice Tarun Chatterjee and Justice P K Balasubramanyan said that they did not find any merit in the petition.

They said it was more a 'private interest litigation'. Though the petition was dismissed, the Bench gave liberty to the petitioner for approaching appropriate authorities for redressal of his grievances.

"This petition is filed under Article 32 of the Constitution. We find no ground to interfere and exercise our jurisdiction. However, this will not prevent the petitioner from approaching appropriate authorities for redressal of his grievances," the Bench said.

The PIL had sought a direction against Patil to continue as a Presidential candidate alleging irregularities committed by her and family members in a cooperative bank and a sugar mill.