Punjab and Haryana HC halts suspension of SDO by minister Anil Vij

The trouble began when Abhinav, son of local resident Balwinder Singh, repeatedly applied for a permanent power connection for his Vishal Poultry Farm. Officials rejected the requests, saying the building was still under construction and only a temporary line could be given.

On August 27, a junior engineer issued a notice asking the family to remove an unauthorized structure built under a high-voltage line and to sign a safety undertaking. The family refused both.

Frustrated, Balwinder Singh took the matter to the District Grievance Committee (DGC) in Kaithal, chaired by Energy Minister Anil Vij. During the October 10 meeting, the minister ordered Yadav’s immediate suspension and asked police to register a criminal case, alleging the officer had demanded a bribe.

Yadav challenged the move in court on October 14. Ten days later, on October 24, the power utility’s managing director formally suspended him — an order the officer said was rushed through to “appease” the minister.

In a strongly worded interim order, Justice Brar observed:

“Clearly, respondent No. 7 (Minister Vij) does not have the authority to direct the suspension of the petitioner for any professional misconduct.”

The judge pointed out that only the managing director of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) can take disciplinary action against its employees, as laid down in service rules protected by Article 309 of the Constitution.

Quoting an October 13 communication from a UHBVN superintending engineer, the court highlighted how the minister’s verbal instructions were treated as binding: “Hon’ble Energy Minister issued direction… to suspend… Sh. Rahul Yadav… also issued direction to the Superintendent of Police to lodge FIR against Sh. Rahul Yadav…”

The court called the subsequent suspension order an “eyewash” passed “with a predetermined mind, without conducting any independent assessment.”

Justice Brar stressed the larger principle: “Disciplinary proceedings possess a certain sacrosanct nature and have to be carried out strictly in terms of the prescribed procedure… It is of the utmost importance that the actions of the State and its instrumentalities do not appear whimsical and fanciful lest it may erode the faith of the public in the constitutional promise of the rule of law.”

Until the next hearing on April 21, 2026, the court has stayed the minister’s October 13 directive and barred any coercive steps, including arrest, based on the DGC meeting. Rahul Yadav remains on duty.

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