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Fazilka man goes to high court for better flood relief in Punjab, told pleadings ‘insufficiently detailed’

The Punjab and Haryana HC cautioned the petitioner that unnecessary litigation could distract authorities from urgent relief efforts.

4 min readChandigarhUpdated: Sep 2, 2025 02:28 PM IST

Army personnel during a rescue and evacuation operation at a flood-affected village, in Kapurthala district, Punjab (Photo/PTI)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court Tuesday directed a petitioner in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning flood relief in Punjab to provide “better particulars”, observing that the present pleadings lacked necessary details.

The court cautioned that unnecessary litigation could distract authorities from urgent relief efforts.

The PIL, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution by Shubham, a resident of Fazilka, seeks multiple directions to the Centre, the states of Punjab and Haryana, and statutory bodies for effective flood management and rehabilitation following the severe floods that hit Punjab between August 25 and 29.

The petitioner has urged the court to order compliance with the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Dam Safety Act, 2021, operationalise early warning systems, undertake technical audits of flood-control infrastructure, and constitute a court-monitored oversight committee.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Yashvir Singh Rathor took up the matter. During the hearing, Chief Justice Nagu remarked, “Let them concentrate on their work presently. They’ll pull out some officer, and he will be sitting on the desk making a reply to this petition, whereas he should be spending time and energy helping the flood victims.”

Advocate Angrej Singh, appearing in person, argued that the ground-level response was inadequate and that the state was not acting in accordance with statutory obligations. He contended that there was poor coordination among Punjab, the Union government, and disaster management agencies, resulting in gaps in relief and rescue operations.

“Please note, my Lords, the state has only 114 boats and one helicopter. NDRF has 30 to 35 helicopters as per the latest bulletins. There is a huge loss of livestock, and infrastructure damage cannot be fully assessed yet. The actual picture will emerge only after the water recedes,” Singh submitted.

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The bench noted that while the petition raised allegations of perfunctory work and lack of coordination, the pleadings were insufficiently detailed.

“It is alleged that the disaster management teams working in Punjab are doing a perfunctory job, without percolating down to the actual victims. There is an alleged lack of coordination between disaster management teams and state authorities. However, after going through the pleadings, it appears that the petition lacks material particulars,” Chief Justice Nagu observed.

The court directed the petitioner to file an amended petition with specific details. “The counsel for the petitioner is directed to provide better particulars in the present petition, failing which the petition shall stand dismissed,” the bench ordered.

The petition seeks directions to ensure minimum standards of relief under Section 12 of the Disaster Management Act, including food, potable water, sanitation, shelter, lighting, and medical care. It also requests the conduct of a special girdawari (damage assessment) and the disbursement of compensation to farmers, households, traders, and livestock owners.

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The plea also seeks directions to operationalise Emergency Action Plans for Pong and Bhakra dams under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, and integrate early-warning systems using IMD and CWC data. It asks for the deployment of technologies like telemetry-based water-level recorders, community sirens, cell-broadcast alerts, drones, and LiDAR mapping for floodplain zoning.

The petitioner also requested urgent public health measures, including chlorination of water, ORS distribution, vector control, and gender-sensitive shelters. He also sought the commission of an independent technical audit of vulnerable embankments, spurs, and bridges under institutions like IITs/NITs, and constitute a court-monitored oversight committee with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), India Meteorological Department (IMD), State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), and independent experts.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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Tags:
flood
Punjab
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