PWD guest house, SSP residence vacated for judicial use in Malerkotla, Punjab tells HC
The Bench, on a 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”
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday was told that two government accommodations — including the PWD Guest House and the official residence, presently occupied by the SSP — have been vacated and allotted for use by the District and Sessions Judge concerned.
Taking on record a compliance report accompanied by letters of the Deputy Commissioner and the District Magistrate, Malerkotla – both dated December 19 – the Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu observed that the orders passed on September 12 and October 1 “stand complied with”.
The Bench also took note of letters stating that directions had been issued for the vacation of the PWD Guest House, Malerkotla, and the existing official residence of the SSP, Malerkotla. Both accommodations had been vacated for use as courtroom/residential accommodation for the District and Sessions Judge.
Clarifying the scope of the interim arrangement, the Bench directed that Sangrur District and Sessions Judge, currently looking after the Sessions Division of Malerkotla, would use both official accommodations and “put them to best use either for residential or for court purposes, as the case may be”.
The court, however, was categorical that the arrangement should not be unnecessarily hedged by rigid timelines. Responding to a submission that the allotment should not be bound by time, the Chief Justice noted that the use of the premises would remain “subject to further orders passed by this Court”.
During the hearing, it was also pointed out that permanent infrastructure was already in the pipeline. The court was informed that a permanent courtroom and residential accommodation for all judicial officers at Malerkotla were under construction, with more than seven houses coming up apart from the Sessions Judge’s residence.
The compliance came 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.
The Bench, on a 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 earlier directions.
The Bench had then noted that district and sessions judges of Moga, Mohali and Pathankot were still staying in requisitioned premises and 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 had remarked.
