Calling it a “sketchy petition” built on unverified claims, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has imposed a cost of Rs. 25,000 in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that alleged the Chairman of the Punjab State Minority Commission was only an “8th pass.”

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry frowned upon the “misuse of judicial process” under the garb of public interest.

The PIL challenged the appointment of Jatinder Masih Gaurav, who was appointed by a notification dated 12.08.2025 as Chairperson of the Punjab State Commission for Minorities, on various grounds, including that he is only an 8th-class pass and there is an FIR registered against him for earlier offences as well.

AG Maninderjit Singh Bedi submitted that the aforesaid FIR was already quashed by the High Court, and as per the matriculation certificate, he has passed Class 10.

After hearing the submissions, the Court opined that “it appears that this PIL has not been filed after due verification of facts. More so, the said petition is sketchy and bereft of details and specificity.”

Accordingly, the bench said that “it appears that the judicial process has been misused by filing this petition and therefore, the same stands dismissed with costs of Rs.25,000…”

Mr. Simranjit Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Maninderjit Singh Bedi, Advocate General, Punjab With Mr. Salil Sabhlok, Senior DAG, Punjab

Title: Jagdish Masih and another v. The State of Punjab and others

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (PH) 393

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