Punjab & Haryana High Court Updates

Punjab & Haryana High Court

Punjab & Haryana HC Directs Authorities to Ensure Humane Conditions in Migrant Workers’ Detention Centres

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed authorities to ensure humane conditions in detention centres holding migrant workers facing legal action.

The court emphasised that basic human dignity must be upheld regardless of immigration status, ordering proper facilities, sanitation, and legal access.

This ruling came while hearing a case involving workers' rights, where the bench stressed that detention should not equate to punishment and that fundamental rights apply to all persons within Indian territory.

In response to a question whether any offence was registered, the counsel said detentions were taking place on administrative instructions.

a day ago

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Punjab & Haryana High Court Admit PIL Challenging Haryana Cow Protection Law Over Rise in Vigilantism

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has admitted a Public Interest Litigation challenging provisions of Haryana's cow protection legislation, citing a rise in vigilante violence and harassment of cattle traders.

The petition argues that the law enables unchecked mob action and violates fundamental rights to livelihood and dignity.

The delegation of essential Police powers involving entry, inspection, search and seizure under the impugned Act is excessive, arbitrary and unconstitutional, the plea contends.

The court will examine whether the state's implementation framework adequately prevents misuse and protects citizens from extralegal enforcement.

[National Federation of Indian Women NFIW v State of Haryana and Others]

a day ago

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Punjab and Haryana High Court Upholds Validity of Minimum 50% Aggregate Marks Rule in Superior Judiciary Exam

The Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld the rule mandating a minimum of 50% aggregate marks for qualification in the Superior Judiciary Examination for the states.

The Court ruled that while candidates must secure at least 40% marks in each paper to be called for viva-voce, they must clear the aggregate threshold of 50% in the written test and viva-voce combined to qualify.

This criterion is valid to ensure the selection of the best talent and does not violate the Superior Judicial Services Rules of the states.

The Court emphasised its authority to prescribe such standards to assess the merit and suitability of candidates for judicial posts.

(Rushil Jindal v. P& H HC & Ors.)

Order Copy / 2 days ago

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Punjab & Haryana High Court lawyers oppose move to relocate High Court

The Bar Association of Punjab and Haryana High Court has unanimously opposed the decision to shift the location of the High Court to Sarangpur village in Chandigarh from the present location in Sector 1.

The decision to relocate the Court premises comes in light of the limited scope of expansion in its current location which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The General House of the Bar Association decided that there shall be no relocation under any circumstances and that the present location is in the best interest of the legal community, the litigant masses and the administration of justice.

Read Details / 2 days ago

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Merely Trying to Initiate Conversation with women Alone Does Not Amount to Outraging Modesty : P&H High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that merely attempting to initiate an unwelcome conversation with a woman, though "annoying," does not constitute the criminal offence of outraging her modesty under Section 354 of the IPC.

Justice Kirti Singh observed that the prosecutrix herself admitted that the petitioner only tried to talk to her once and left when she refused. With no criminal force alleged or used, the Court found the ingredients of Section 354 not made out even prima facie.

Hence, continuation of criminal proceedings would be an abuse of process. The FIR and related proceedings filed under Sections 354-A and 451 IPC were quashed.

Read Details / 3 days ago

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Punjab & Haryana High Court Bar Association Seeks FIR Against Advocates for Assaulting Bar Members

The Punjab & Haryana High Court Bar Association has demanded FIR registration and arrests after two advocates, Ravneet Kaur and associate Simranjit Singh Blassi, allegedly assaulted a bar member inside the court complex.

The association said Blassi was seen carrying a sword, attacked the secretary and other members, and created fear among lawyers. Videos of the incident circulated online.

Police took both into custody, and an FIR was lodged at Sector-3 police station under sections including attempt to murder and voluntarily causing hurt.

The association has urged the Bar Council to initiate disciplinary proceedings and called a one-day strike pending action.

Read Details / 8 days ago

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P&H High Court Denies Relief to Candidate Who Mistakenly Declared “More Than One Wife” in Judge Application

The Punjab & Haryana High Court refused relief to advocate Pardeep Kumar, who mistakenly marked “yes” to declaring more than one spouse in his application for the post of Additional District & Sessions Judge in Haryana.

The recruitment notification explicitly barred candidates with more than one wife living. Although Kumar claimed it was an inadvertent error, the Court held that he was responsible for the declaration and rejected his plea.

The Court also emphasised that application disclosures are final, and candidates must exercise utmost care; a wrong assertion, even if made in error, can lead to the cancellation of their candidature.

[Pardeep Kumar v State of Haryana and Another].

Read Details / 9 days ago

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Mere Registration of FIR Not Ground to Withhold Promotion: Punjab and Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that mere registration of an FIR does not denote pendency of criminal proceedings and thus, a promotion cannot be withheld for this reason.

The ruling came in the case of an Army soldier whose promotion was withheld after an FIR against him was treated as ongoing proceedings under Army Orders.

Dissatisfied with the Armed Forces Tribunal’s decision, he moved to the High Court.

The Court relied on Union of India v K.V. Jankiraman, the Court clarified that criminal proceedings commence only once a chargesheet is filed and cognisance taken.

[District Bar Association Malerkotla v State of Punjab and Ors.]

9 days ago

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Punjab & Haryana High Court Imposes Cost on Advocate for Concealing Suspended License

The Punjab & Haryana High Court dismissed a PIL and imposed a cost of ₹25,000 on the petitioner, an advocate, for suppressing the fact that his license to practice was suspended.

A division bench discovered the advocate had filed the plea while his license was under suspension by the Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana.

The court condemned this act as an abuse of the judicial process, stating a suspended lawyer cannot pursue litigation. The costs must be deposited with the High Court Legal Services Committee.

[Simranjeet Singh v. State of Punjab and others.]

Read order / 10 days ago

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Compelling Couple To Live Together After 30 Yrs Of Separation Amounts To Mental Cruelty: Punjab & Haryana High

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that compelling a couple to live together after 30 years of separation would amount to mental cruelty.

Granting a divorce decree, the court observed that the long separation itself had irreparably broken the matrimonial bond, making restitution of conjugal rights impossible.

The bench stated that forcing cohabitation after such an extensive period would only cause further trauma and anguish, not reconcile the marriage. The court dissolved the marriage, citing the lengthy separation as evidence of an irretrievable breakdown.

While disposing of the plea, the Court granted liberty to "respondent-wife to move an appropriate application before the learned Family Court, for permanent alimony."

Read Details / 10 days ago

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Punjab & Haryana HC Flags Sudden Rise in PILs Against Trademark Use of Religious Symbols

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has raised concerns over a surge in PILs seeking to restrict the trademark use of religious symbols like the Shivling.

The bench questioned the timing and motive behind such petitions, asking whether they reflect genuine grievances or popular sentiments.

Refusing to impose a blanket ban, the Court said the trademark registry must first assess whether petitioners are truly aggrieved and if the filings are contentious.

The Court added that not every use of religious imagery amounts to hurting religious sentiments. The registry was directed to place relevant filings on record before further action.

13 days ago

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Punjab & Haryana HC Orders CBI Probe into Advocate Who Allegedly Took ₹5 Lakh to Influence Judge

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate claims that advocate Ankush Dhanerwal received over ₹5 lakh from a litigant, promising to bribe a Government Pleader and a Judge for a favorable order.

Dhanerwal had sought protection from an ex-Sarpanch who, having lost the case, allegedly demanded a refund of his fees. While police recorded that parts of the fee were paid via Google Pay and instalments, the names of the supposed Government Pleader and Judge were not identified.

Justice Sandeep Moudgil described the claims as serious, highlighting threats to the lawyer’s life and concerns regarding judicial integrity.

[Ankush Dhanerwal v State of Punjab and Others]

Read Details / 14 days ago

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Punjab & Haryana HC: Innocent Mistakes in Passport Application Cannot Lead to Revocation

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that an innocent mistake in disclosing the marital status or name of the spouse in the passport application cannot justify impounding or revoking the passport under the Passports Act, 1967.

The Court held that such unintentional mistakes do not amount to the offence of 'mischief' and therefore, cannot attract a penalty.

The decision came in light of a case where a woman, though divorced and later remarried, renewed her passport through an agent, who mentioned the name of the ex-spouse in the relevant column.

[Navpreet Kaur v Union of India]

Read Details / 15 days ago

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P&H High Court imposes ₹5K cost on NGO alleging non-implementation of animal protection law

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a plea by Amritsar-based NGO Zariyaan for Voiceless Welfare Society seeking implementation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and directions for free medical aid for injured animals.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry noted that similar issues had already been addressed in July 2024 orders and termed the petition “superfluous.”

The Court directed the NGO to deposit ₹5,000 in the Punjab State Legal Services Authority Disaster Relief Fund within seven days.

[Zariyaan for Voiceless Welfare Society v Union of India and Ors]

Read Details / 16 days ago

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CBI Challenges Acquittal of Ex-Judge Nirmal Yadav in 2008 Corruption Case Before Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an appeal before the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the acquittal of former judge Justice Nirmal Yadav in the 2008 corruption case.

A Chandigarh court in March had cleared Yadav and others, holding that the CBI fabricated evidence to implicate them.

A Division Bench of Justices Manjari Nehru Kaul and HS Grewal issued notice to Yadav and other respondents, listing the matter for December 15.

The CBI contends that the trial court overlooked crucial witness statements and wrongly dismissed evidence on speculative grounds.

Read Details / 16 days ago

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