The Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed a total cost of ₹2 lakh on four senior Punjab officers, including Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, for failing to comply with its earlier directions aimed at curbing the menace of modified vehicles plying on state roads.
Justice Sudeepti Sharma ordered that the amount be recovered in equal share—₹50,000 each—from the salaries of the four officers and deposited into the Punjab Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The other three officers held liable are IAS officer Pardeep Kumar, Secretary, Department of Transport; IAS officer Moneesh Kumar, State Transport Commissioner; and IAS officer Jitendra Jorwal, Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur.
The court was hearing a contempt petition titled Shaheed Bhagat Singh Mini Transport Welfare Association Punjab vs. State of Punjab and Others, filed over non-compliance of a 2023 High Court order that had directed authorities to take “appropriate and effective steps” to prevent modified vehicles from operating in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Despite multiple opportunities, the court noted, the state officers failed to submit any comprehensive compliance report or affidavit. The order dated October 14 observed:
“The last opportunity was granted to the respondents to file compliance affidavits of order dated 20.09.2023 passed by this Court, subject to payment of cost of Rs.1,00,000/-. Neither the compliance affidavits have been filed nor the receipt of payment of cost imposed is shown to this Court.”
Justice Sharma termed the officers’ conduct as “persistent and deliberate disobedience,” highlighting that instead of complying with court orders, the respondents chose to file two applications—one seeking modification and another seeking recall of an earlier order dated September 2, which had directed them to file compliance affidavits.
The order stated that both applications were “devoid of merit,” and their filing “further reflects a casual and contemptuous attitude of respondents towards the judicial process.”
The court also examined the challan reports submitted by the Punjab Police and the Transport Department. Justice Sharma noted inconsistencies between the two reports:
“Perusal of these reports shows that there are material contradiction and inconsistencies in the same, as there is a variation in the report regarding vehicles challaned and impounded. This further reflects the lack of diligence and seriousness on the part of the respondents.”
Finding the continued non-compliance unacceptable, the High Court fixed November 27 as the next date of hearing to review the officers’ compliance with its orders.
