Punjab government free to decide on merger of dists, rules HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the state government’s proposal to merge Hoshiarpur’s Garhshankar subdivision with the proposed Anandpur Sahib district.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry ruled the formation or merging of subdivisions and districts falls under the exclusive policy domain of the state, where judicial interference is unwarranted unless the decision shocks the conscience of a common man.

The Bench noted that the PIL raised concerns over alleged lack of consultation, feasibility study, or approval regarding the merger. However, no grounds were found to warrant judicial intervention, especially since the merger has not yet been officially notified.

The court said, “No such ground is made out and more so, the merging of subdivision Garhshankar with the proposed Anandpur Sahib district has not yet been notified. Accordingly, for the time being, this petition stands dismissed.”

Opposition parties and stakeholders continue to oppose the proposed creation of Anandpur Sahib as Punjab’s 24th district, which would include parts of Rupnagar and the Garhshankar subdivision of Hoshiarpur.

The Bar Association of Garhshankar and residents of the Garhshankar Assembly constituency protested the merger, emphasising that the subdivision was an integral part of Hoshiarpur district. The petitioner argued that historical, administrative, economic and public sentiment factors warrant keeping Garhshankar within Hoshiarpur.