LiveLaw Punjab & Haryana High Court Weekly Roundup: August 03 - August 09, 2026
Nominal Index [Citations 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 249- 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 259]PB STATE POWER CORP LTD V/S NIRMAL SINGH DHANOA AND ORS 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 249 HARMANJIT SINGH SANDHU ALIAS HAMMA v. UNION OF INDIA THROUGH THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, AMRITSAR 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 250HARMANJIT SINGH SANDHU ALIAS HAMMA v. UNION OF INDIA THROUGH THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, AMRITSAR 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 251 SXXXX v....
Nominal Index [Citations 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 249- 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 259]
PB STATE POWER CORP LTD V/S NIRMAL SINGH DHANOA AND ORS 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 249
HARMANJIT SINGH SANDHU ALIAS HAMMA v. UNION OF INDIA THROUGH THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, AMRITSAR 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 250
HARMANJIT SINGH SANDHU ALIAS HAMMA v. UNION OF INDIA THROUGH THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, AMRITSAR 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 251
SXXXX v. State of Punjab and others 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 252
State of Haryana v. Pradeep and another 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 253
HARVINDER @ HARVINDER SINGH AND OTHERS v. STATE OF HARYANA 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 254
Subhash Chander v. Sunil Kumar 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 255
Amit Kumar v. State of Haryana 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 256
Gurbans Singh v. State of Punjab 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 257
Naveen @ Bhola v. State of Haryana; Praveen v. State of Haryana 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 258
Mallikarjun Kharge v. Hitesh Bhardwaj 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 259
Reports
Title: PB STATE POWER CORP LTD V/S NIRMAL SINGH DHANOA AND ORS
2026 LiveLaw (PH) 249
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday dismissed the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) appeal against a Single Judge's direction to release pending Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) to its employees and pensioners.
Acting Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor also restrained the State from undertaking any large-scale advertisement campaign until the dues are paid.
Title: HARMANJIT SINGH SANDHU ALIAS HAMMA v. UNION OF INDIA THROUGH THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, AMRITSAR
2026 LiveLaw (PH) 250
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said that border-centric drug cartel cases involving commercial quantities pose "existential threat to public health, national security, and the socio-economic fabric of society, destroying entire generations of youth", and in such matters individual liberty must be carefully balanced against the overriding societal interest.
Justice Alok Jain said, "This Court takes judicial notice of the alarming magnitude and pervasive spread of the drug menace, particularly in the sensitive border regions of the State. The unabated influx of heavy commercial quantities of psychotropic substances across international borders poses an existential threat to public health, national security, and the socio-economic fabric of society, destroying entire generations of youth."
Title: HARMANJIT SINGH SANDHU ALIAS HAMMA v. UNION OF INDIA THROUGH THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, AMRITSAR
2026 LiveLaw (PH) 251
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said that when dealing with cases emanating from border-centric drug cartels involving commercial quantities of contraband and organised networks, courts are duty-bound to exercise heightened circumspection and strict scrutiny, and that minor procedural lapses on the part of the investigating agency cannot form the basis for granting the extraordinary concession of anticipatory bail.
Justice Alok Jain said, "the Court cannot lose sight of the fact that the drug menace in the State of Punjab is at its peak and the larger aspect has to be seen for which thorough investigation is required. NCB is a specialized Authority to look into such crimes, however, certain minor lapses cannot form basis to make the petitioner entitled for grant the extra-ordinary concession of anticipatory bail."
Title: SXXXX v. State of Punjab and others
2026 LiveLaw (PH) 252
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a petition seeking police protection filed by a minor girl and her major partner, holding that granting protection in such cases would amount to implicitly sanctioning relationship involving a minor—something the statutory framework expressly prohibits.
Justice Sumeet Goel dismissing the plea said, "Ergo, in adjudicating upon a petition for protection wherein minors are involved in a live-in-relationship, the Court must remain mindful of the fact that the paramount consideration remains the welfare and well being of the minor in question. To extend the mantle of protection in such circumstances would, in effect, constitute an implicit approbation of a live-in arrangement involving minors, a proposition repugnant to the established statutory framework designed to shield the young and impressionable from exploitation and moral peril."
Title: State of Haryana v. Pradeep and another
2026 LiveLaw (PH) 253
In a significant ruling arising from the brutal rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has set aside the death sentences awarded by the trial Court to both convicts and remanded the matter for retrial from summons stage.
The Court found that the Investigating Officer had failed to forward the FSL report to the post-mortem doctors for their final opinion on sexual assault, and that the trial Court had inadequately complied with the mandatory provisions of Section 313 CrPC by failing to put material incriminating circumstances to both the accused.
Title: HARVINDER @ HARVINDER SINGH AND OTHERS v. STATE OF HARYANA
2026 LiveLaw (PH) 254
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said that a Sikh man accused of using a Kirpan to cause injury cannot claim the constitutional protection available under Explanation I to Article 25 of the Constitution at the stage of framing of charge, holding that whether the Kirpan was being carried as an essential article of faith or was used as a weapon can only be determined at trial.
The Court thus upheld the charge of Section 307 IPC (attempt to murder) against a group of accused persons who allegedly attacked a complainant with swords following an altercation.
Subhash Chander v. Sunil Kumar
2026 LiveLaw (PH) 255
Holding that offences under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act can be compounded even after a conviction has been upheld in appeal, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has set aside the conviction of a cheque bounce accused after the parties reached an amicable settlement.
The Court further clarified that while courts have the discretion to waive the costs ordinarily payable at the stage of compounding, such power should be exercised only in exceptional circumstances.
Drunken Driving Case: High Court Denies Bail To Haryana Cop Accused Of Running Over Woman
Title: Amit Kumar v. State of Haryana
2026 LiveLaw (PH) 256
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has declined regular bail to a serving Haryana Police official accused of causing the death of a 25-year-old woman by driving a car in an intoxicated condition and running over her after striking the e-rickshaw in which she was travelling.
Justice Virinder Aggarwal said, "the petitioner is a serving police official, who is expected to uphold the rule of law and exhibit a higher degree of responsibility while discharging his duties as well as in his personal conduct. Prima facie, the allegations depict a complete disregard for public safety by driving a motor vehicle on a public road under the influence of alcohol. Such conduct, if ultimately established, cannot be viewed lightly, particularly when it has allegedly resulted in the loss of a young human life."
Title: Gurbans Singh v. State of Punjab
2026 LiveLaw (PH) 257
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted regular bail to a man accused of assaulting his pregnant wife after she refused to undergo an ultrasound examination for determination of the sex of the foetus, observing that the accused should makes sincere efforts to overcome his habit of consuming liquor and take care of his family.
Justice Sanjay Vashisth said, "admittedly, allegations arise out of a matrimonial dispute between husband (petitioner herein) and wife (complainant herein). Conduct attributed to the petitioner, if ultimately established, is undoubtedly reprehensible. However, petitioner has remained inside jail since 21.04.2026, i.e., for a period of more than three months. Investigation stands completed, and conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time."
Title: Naveen @ Bhola v. State of Haryana; Praveen v. State of Haryana
2026 LiveLaw (PH) 258
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has suspended the sentence of two murder convicts during the pendency of their criminal appeals, while directing them to perform community service for one month at the Civil Hospital, Gurugram, including attending to the injured and patients.
A Division Bench of Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj and Justice Sukhvinder Kaur said, "The applicant(s)-appellant(s) shall perform community service for a period of one month from the date of their release, in different shifts. They shall undertake all such sundry jobs as well as jobs pertaining to attending the injured/patients, as may be assigned by the office of the Chief Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Gurugram."
Title: Mallikarjun Kharge v. Hitesh Bhardwaj
2026 LiveLaw (PH) 259
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed proceedings in a criminal defamation complaint pending against Indian National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sangrur.
The case stems from a complaint filed by one Hitesh Bhardwaj, a resident of Sangrur, against the Congress President's comments about Bajrang Dal during the Karnataka Assembly election campaigning. Bhardwaj had allegedly filed a complaint in the Sangrur court based on the Congress election manifesto during the Karnataka Assembly elections in 2023 and the statements made at that time.
Other Development
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Haryana, Home Department, to file an affidavit apprising it of the policy framework and institutional measures put in place by the State to deal with organised criminal gangs and their sleeper cells.
Justice Sanjay Vashisth while allowing of three connected bail pleas observed, "this Court deems it appropriate to take note of the disturbing trend emerging in certain districts of the State of Haryana, particularly Palwal, Faridabad and Gurugram, where organized criminal gangs and their sleeper cells are alleged to be operating with increasing frequency. Such activities have serious ramifications for the maintenance of public order and the safety and security of citizens."
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a batch of Letters Patent Appeals filed by the Punjab Government and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), affirming that once the State adopted the Central Government pattern for grant of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief, it incurred a binding obligation to release the accrued instalments and could not defer them indefinitely under the guise of financial constraint.