HC imposes Rs 2 lakh cost on DGP, 3 others for non-compliance of order on modified vehicles

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed a cost of Rs 2 lakh on four senior Punjab officers, including Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, for non-compliance of its earlier order pertaining to modified vehicles.

Justice Sudeepti Sharma directed that the cost be recovered in equal share of Rs 50,000 each from the officers’ salaries and deposited in the Punjab Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

The three others are IAS officer Pardeep Kumar, secretary, department of transport; IAS officer Moneesh Kumar, state transport commissioner; and IAS officer Jitendra Jorwal, Sangrur Deputy Commissioner.

The court passed these directions while taking up a contempt petition, ‘Shaheed Bhagat Singh Mini Transport Welfare Association Punjab versus state of Punjab and Others’. The plea was filed for violating the court’s 2023 order, which had directed the state authorities to take appropriate and effective steps to stop the menace of modified vehicles plying on roads in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

“The court observed that 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,” said the October 14 order.

The court further observed that instead of complying with the orders, respondents chose to file two applications — one for seeking modification and another for recalling the September 2 order, in which they were directed to file compliance affidavits. Both the applications are dismissed being devoid of any merit.

Taking note of the reports of challans submitted by police and the transport department, Justice Sharma observed that perusal of these reports show that there are material contradictions 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,” it said.

The court has fixed November 27 as the next date of hearing.