HC refuses more time to get houses of Malerkotla DC, SSP vacated

Nearly three months after the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed that the guesthouse and a residence currently occupied by Malerkotla Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police be vacated forthwith, a Division Bench today refused to grant Punjab additional time to vacate the premises.

Taking up the matter at the very outset, the Bench, headed by the Chief Justice, made it clear that the State’s request would be “outrightly rejected” and declined to consider the plea for more time.

Appearing for the State, Advocate-General Maninder Singh Bedi sought a month’s extension, submitting that elections to zila parishads were underway in Punjab and vacating the houses at this stage would make the maintenance of law and order difficult. The Bench took note of the submission, but reminded the State that three months had already passed since the order was issued.

“If you are sensitive towards the desire of the judiciary, you could have always acted in some manner to show your bona fide,” the Bench observed.

During the hearing, the court referred to pre-fabricated accommodations already available and said these could be assembled and used immediately instead of delaying the matters. When the State pressed further for time, the Bench offered to record a statement that the houses would be vacated by December 31.

The Bench, on the previous date of hearing, had come down heavily on Punjab over the continued absence of permanent residential accommodation for judicial officers in multiple districts, describing the situation as “strange” and “shocking”, while granting a limited extension of time to comply with their earlier directions.

Taking up the matter of compliance with its September 12 order, the Bench then noted that district and sessions judges of Moga, Mohali and Pathankot were still staying in the requisitioned premises. The Bench observed that the state had failed to ensure basic official housing despite these districts being in existence for years. “Why is it so? This is not only strange but shocking,” Chief Justice Nagu remarked while seeking an explanation.

The proceedings unfolded against the backdrop of Punjab’s plea to seek the modification of the September 12 order, which had directed that the DC’s guest house and the residence of the SSP in Malerkotla be vacated “forthwith” for use by the district and sessions judge and also told the Building Committee to revisit the status of two makeshift courtrooms.