‘Haryana Banao Abhiyan’ renews push for separate capital & HC

Those associated with the campaign, ‘Haryana Banao Abhiyan’, have argued that Haryana’s buildings located in Chandigarh should be repurposed for other state functions.

By: Express News Service

Chandigarh | September 20, 2025 11:15 AM IST

3 min read

On Friday, a delegation from the Haryana Banao Abhiyan Samiti, comprising senior lawyers and retired officials and led by former central government officer MS Chopra, met Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan to seek his intervention in securing a separate capital and an independent High Court for Haryana

A group of prominent personalities in Haryana have intensified their campaign for demanding the establishment of a separate high court and the state capital, along with the relocation of key administrative offices from Chandigarh, to accelerate the state’s development.

Those associated with the campaign, ‘Haryana Banao Abhiyan’, have argued that Haryana’s buildings located in Chandigarh should be repurposed for other state functions.

On Friday, a delegation of the Haryana Banao Abhiyan Samiti, comprising senior lawyers and retired officials and led by former central government officer MS Chopra, met Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, seeking his intervention in securing a separate capital and an independent HC for the state. The Samiti also submitted a memorandum to the Speaker.

“It has been 58 years since Haryana was separated from Punjab, but unfortunately, it does not have its own capital and a separate High Court. Because of this, the golden opportunity of creating a distinct identity for the state based on its glorious history and rich ancient culture is being wasted,” Chopra said.

“The sacred land of Haryana holds an important place in India for its ancient civilisation, rich culture, glorious history, spiritual prosperity, and social harmony. But today, Haryana is deprived of its own capital. Building a modern capital at an appropriate location will accelerate the development of underdeveloped areas of the state and strengthen its economy,” he added.

Recently, former Haryana chief secretary SC Chaudhary, former vice-chancellor of Chaudhary Devi Lal University (Sirsa) Radheshyam Sharma, and Padma Shri Haryanvi folk singer Mahavir Guddu also joined the campaign.

“The creation of 22 districts from the original seven districts was indirectly justified to provide administrative and judicial services closer to the people, but as the capital lies in one corner of the state, most people from far-off regions have to travel long distances and pay thousands of rupees in tolls to reach administrative offices and the high court. Due to lakhs of pending cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the people of Haryana face long delays in justice, which also proves costly,” SC Chaudhary said.

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Randhir Singh Badhran, convener of the campaign and former chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, said, “Even though they are demanding a separate capital and a separate high court, Haryana’s rights on Chandigarh will not be given up.”

Chandigarh, a union territory, serves as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana.

According to a samiti’s communique, more than 14,25,047 cases are pending before Haryana’s district and subordinate courts, while over 4,50,000 cases are pending before the HC. “In addition, lakhs of cases are pending before various commissions, tribunals and other authorities. It is estimated that over 45 lakh people in Haryana are involved in litigation, and most litigants suffer due to delays in case disposal. Quick resolution of cases is of utmost importance for both litigants and advocates of Haryana. To solve this issue, both Haryana and Punjab need separate high courts,” the samiti added.

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