HC reiterates directive for armed police deployment in sensitive zones along NHAI project

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has reiterated that its directions for pre-emptive deployment of armed police personnel at sensitive locations along the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project must be “fully complied with.” The SSPs of the police districts concerned, the court added, were “directed to identify all the sensitive areas” and ensure that the requested posse of armed personnel was stationed at vulnerable sites as a preventive measure.

The Bench of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Kuldeep Tiwari passed the reiteration while referring to affidavits on compliance with its earlier orders for repossession of encroached land. “An escalated scale of efforts is yet required to be infused into the already taken steps. The further steps as such be completed within four weeks from today,” the Bench asserted.

The direction came as compliance affidavits filed before the High Court confirmed that land had been restored to the NHAI in Malerkotla, Sangrur, and Fazilka districts. The compliance came after the court summoned the Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police of these districts.

The DC and SSP of Malerkotla stated that possession was delivered to the NHAI with police assistance on May 13, and construction work had begun. Their Sangrur counterparts also confirmed restoration of land and resumption of construction, with permanent police deployment in place.

In Fazilka, SSP’s affidavit revealed that 1.77 km was handed over to NHAI after the court intervened. Despite the progress, the State submitted that approximately 16 km was still under encroachment. It assured the court that efforts were being made to comply with its directions at the earliest.

An earlier affidavit had recorded repossession in three instances — two along the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway. As per NHAI’s May 12 status report, 0.175 km in Malerkotla and 0.07 km in Sangrur were retrieved on May 10, while 1.77 km was reclaimed in Fazilka on May 7. Photographs showing existing hindrances were also submitted, along with a statement that contractors had even been instructed to remove machinery from one location.

NHAI was represented by senior advocate Chetan Mittal. The project’s corridor is targeted for completion by December 2026, and the connecting Amritsar spur by December 2027, subject to the State’s continued cooperation. The matter will now be taken up on July 11 for further compliance.