The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Union Territory Administration of Chandigarh to submit a report explaining the prolonged delay in handing over government housing to judges.

The Bench observed that despite residences being allotted, possession had not been transferred due to administrative lapses.

The Court sought clarification on whether the delay was linked to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ cap of ₹1 crore on tenders for renovation and refurbishment work.

The UT’s senior standing counsel assured that factual details would be verified and presented. The Court directed that reasons for the delay be identified and reported to ensure the timely allocation of official residences.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 , cannot be invoked to resolve familial property disputes or to seek cancellation of property transfers under the guise of maintenance claims.

The Court dismissed a plea filed by a senior citizen under Section 23 of the Act seeking cancellation of a transfer deed executed in favour of his grandchildren on grounds of alleged neglect.

The Court noted that the allegations were vague and unsupported by evidence.

[Chattan Singh v The Deputy Commissioner-cum-Presiding Officer, Maintenance Appellate Tribunal, Mohali, District Mohali & Ors.]

A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, comprising Justices Lisa Gill and Meenakshi I. Mehta, directed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to extend the due date for filing Income-Tax Returns (ITRs) for assessees required to furnish audit reports.

The Court observed that since the due date for submitting audit reports under Section 44AB of the Income-Tax Act had already been extended to October 31, 2025, the ITR deadline must also be correspondingly extended to maintain the statutory one-month gap.

Relying on the Gujarat High Court’s similar extension, the Bench directed the CBDT to modify the ITR due date accordingly, noting that a detailed order is awaited.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court underscored that courts must adopt a liberal and pragmatic approach while deciding applications by accused persons seeking permission to travel abroad.

Observing that in an era of globalisation, travel has become a “quotidian necessity rather than a rarefied privilege,” the Court cautioned against mechanically imposing travel restrictions.

The Court held that the right to personal liberty and freedom of movement must be harmonised with the interests of justice, especially when the accused has cooperated with the investigation and poses no flight risk.

The Court concluded that each case must be evaluated on its individual merits.

[Jonty Chhag @ Jonty Vinay Chhag v State of Haryana]

A Punjab court directed Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook) to immediately remove and block objectionable AI-generated content impersonating Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, holding that the material appeared indecent, sordid, and capable of disturbing public order.

Judicial Magistrate Sarveesha Sharma issued the order on an application by the State Cyber Cell under the IT Act and IT Rules, 2021.

The FIR alleged that a Facebook account named “Jagman Samra,” operated from Canada, uploaded synthetic, vulgar media targeting the Chief Minister. 

The court observed that AI manipulation could not be ruled out and directed Meta and Google to remove, de-index, and preserve all related data.

[State v Jagmal Samra]

The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana sought details from the High Court regarding the recent designation of 76 lawyers as Senior Advocates on October 20, following multiple complaints alleging nepotism and lack of transparency.

In a resolution passed on October 23, the Council said several advocates claimed that deserving candidates were overlooked while others were favoured, and requested the High Court to share information on the selection procedure, rules applied, marking system, and criteria for SC, ST, and women candidates.

The Council stated that under Section 6(d) of the Advocates Act,  the Bar Council is duty-bound to safeguard advocates’ rights and ensure fairness in the selection process.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld disciplinary proceedings against a CISF constable who made an inflammatory speech at a public event while on leave.

The Court emphasised that armed forces personnel are held to higher standards of conduct, both professionally and morally, and must safeguard the nation’s integrity and constitutional values. The Court noted that freedom of speech carries reasonable restrictions, especially for security personnel.

The soldier’s petition challenging the departmental penalty to cut his pay was dismissed, reinforcing that misconduct by armed forces personnel attracts strict accountability.

The Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court led judges and lawyers on a symbolic morning walk at Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake to promote mediation as an effective mode of dispute resolution.

Organised by the High Court’s Mediation and Conciliation Centre, the event aimed to raise public awareness about the advantages of amicable settlements over prolonged litigation.

Later in the evening, a conference on ‘Comity of Courts and International Legal Cooperation in Practice’ will be held in Chandigarh, jointly organised by the Society of Indian Lawyers and the Bar Council of England and Wales.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, led by Justice Sandeep Moudgil, allowed a petition challenging the Haryana Public Service Commission’s (HPSC) revision of the Assistant District Attorney (ADA) exam syllabus.

The revised syllabus replaced law-focused subjects with general knowledge topics, including current events, history, geography, and mental ability, excluding law entirely.

The petitioner, a law graduate, contended that the change was arbitrary, lacked a rational basis, and could disadvantage practising advocates. The Court directed the Haryana Government to reconsider the syllabus pending a detailed judgment.

[Lakhan Singh v State of Haryana & Ors.]

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has held that reservation benefits under the Backward Classes (BC) category can only be claimed in a person’s state of origin, not in their state of birth or current residence.

The Court clarified that state-specific BC certificates are linked to domicile and parental origin, and cannot be ported between states to protect local affirmative action policies.

It observed that reservation benefits are rooted in a community’s ethnicity, shared culture, and history, and that notifying a community as ‘backward’ depends on its historical presence in a particular geographical area.

[Vinay Sahotra v. The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited and others]

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, while hearing a plea challenging restrictions on the sale and purchase of green crackers under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, observed that business activities can be curtailed but environmental protection must not suffer.

The Court stressed the need to balance economic interests with public health and environmental concerns, noting that restrictions on green crackers are necessary to curb pollution. 

The Court further observed that the extent of such restrictions falls within the domain of policy and may not warrant judicial interference.

The case will be heard next on October 16.

[Alandhar Fireworks Association v State of Punjab & Ors]

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has highlighted the rise in instances of drugs being smuggled across the India-Pakistan border via drones.

The observations were made while hearing an anticipatory bail plea filed by a man who was allegedly involved in smuggling heroin across the border using drones. The petitioner contended that he was being falsely implicated solely on the basis of a statement given by his co-accused.

The Court observed that these actions threaten national security and compromise the welfare of the nation's youth.

[Robert Masih v. State of Punjab]

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has cautioned advocates against using mobile phones mid-hearing to search for answers via AI or Google. Justice Sanjay Vashisth observed that such conduct disrupts proceedings and reflects a lack of preparation. 

In the case before him, counsel resorted to online searches instead of relying on prior case preparation, prompting the judge to seize the device temporarily.

The Court directed the Bar Association to circulate the order among members, warning that repeated use of phones to “update themselves” during hearings could invite harsher sanctions.

The Court remarked that this was not the first time such conduct had been noticed, and that it had become a recurring problem. 

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.