During the hearing on December 20, the Bench was informed that in Derabassi, Mohali district, three judicial officers were holding court on the ground floor of a two-story building, while the SDM’s office was on the first floor.
Punjab: The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently directed a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Punjab to vacate his office to make space for judicial officers to hold court proceedings in the building.
The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal, expressed strong concern over the inadequate judicial infrastructure in Punjab and ordered the state to speed up efforts to increase the number of courtrooms.
The Bench remarked, “This Court takes a serious view of the sad situation where the State of Punjab seems to be treating the third pillar of democracy (Judiciary) very shabbily.” The case was being heard as part of a series of petitions concerning judicial infrastructure in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh.
The Court has also been overseeing the availability of residential accommodations for judicial officers. During the hearing on December 20, the Bench was informed that in Derabassi, Mohali district, three judicial officers were holding court on the ground floor of a two-story building, while the SDM’s office was on the first floor.
The Court highlighted the contrast between the well-maintained SDM’s office, which was renovated and habitable, and the dilapidated state of the ground floor housing the three courts, which was in desperate need of repairs. In light of this, the Court directed the SDM to vacate the first-floor office and ordered the state to issue an allotment order for both floors to be used for judicial purposes in Derabassi.
The Court specified that the vacating process and fresh allotment order should be completed within two weeks. It also instructed the state to ensure that repairs to the ground floor are completed before the next hearing and that a compliance report, including photographs of both floors in a renovated and habitable state, be submitted.
Additionally, the Court raised concerns about the dilapidated condition of residences for judicial officers in Punjab. In Amritsar district, none of the 38 houses allotted to judicial officers were habitable, with 12 under minor repairs and the remaining 26 requiring major repairs.
The situation in Ludhiana was similarly dire, with 91 judicial officers but only 33 available residences. The Bench emphasized the urgency of the matter, particularly as new judicial officers are set to join in March/April 2025.
The Court warned that stringent measures might be necessary to address the worsening situation and scheduled the next hearing for January 7.
Advocates SS Behl and Gaurav Vir Singh Behl represented the District Bar Association of Malerkotla, while Senior Advocate Gaurav Chopra, along with advocates Shobit Phutela and Sanya Kapoor, represented the High Court. Deputy Advocate General Salil Sabhlok represented the State of Punjab.
Case Title: District Bar Association Malerkotla vs State of Punjab and Others
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