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In relief for 36 middle-aged Haryana cops, HC exempts them from physically gruelling training course

Expressing willingness to forego promotion benefits, the petitioners argued before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that while they were below 38 years when the list was prepared, they are now around 40-45 years old.

3 min readChandigarhFeb 6, 2026 05:12 PM IST

The police personnel were selected for the List-B1 Lower School Course of 2022, scheduled to commence on February 2, 2026, at the Haryana Police Academy in Madhuban.

Providing relief to middle-aged police personnel facing physically demanding training, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Thursday disposed of a writ petition filed by 36 serving Haryana Police constables, head constables and assistant sub-inspectors, directing the state authorities to consider their exemption from the compulsory Lower School Course in light of a binding precedent set by the court in September 2025.

The matter, titled EHC Amit Kumar and others v State of Haryana and others, was decided by Justice Jagmohan Bansal.

The petitioners, all male officers aged between 39 and 45, are posted across districts including Karnal, Panipat, Rohtak, Faridabad, Gurugram, Sirsa, Jhajjar, Fatehabad, Palwal, Bhiwani, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Charkhi Dadri, Hisar, Kurukshetra and Ambala. Most hold the rank of Exemptee Head Constable or Exemptee Assistant Sub-Inspector, with one being a Constable.

They were selected under the 35 per cent reserved quota for the List-B1 Lower School Course of 2022, scheduled to commence on February 2, 2026, at the Haryana Police Academy in Madhuban. The selection list issued on January 28, 2026, was challenged on grounds of age and physical feasibility.

Training ‘potentially harmful’ to health

The petitioners argued that while they were below 38 years when the promotional list was originally prepared, they are now around 40 to 45 years old. They submitted that the course involves rigorous physical training that would be excessively strenuous, potentially harmful to health, and unproductive for both the officers and the department, particularly in view of domestic, medical and family responsibilities.

All 36 officers had submitted formal declarations of unwillingness to undergo the course, supported by notarised affidavits stating that they would permanently forgo any claim to seniority, promotional benefits and financial upgradations under the Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme, solely on account of not attending the course. Sample affidavits of three petitioners were annexed, with the petition stating that identical undertakings had been filed by all officers. Reliance was placed on Rule 14 of the Haryana government notification dated October 28, 2016, which sets out grounds for cessation of ACP entitlement.

Advocate Balkar Singh, who represented the petitioners, submitted that the case was squarely covered by the judgment in ESI Sandeep Kumar and others v State of Haryana and others (CWP No. 24483 of 2025), decided on September 4, 2025, in which similar relief had been granted to a batch of Exemptee Sub-Inspectors.

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The 2025 ruling in the Sandeep Kumar case had held that personnel who expressly decline interest in promotion cannot be compelled to undergo promotional training courses, particularly when physical demands are high and age-related hardships are pleaded alongside irrevocable waivers of associated benefits.

‘Forcing participation unreasonable’

The reasoning focused on the fact that the Lower School Course is primarily a prerequisite for promotional eligibility and career progression benefits. When officers voluntarily relinquish those benefits and express no desire for promotion, compelling them to undergo rigorous training serves no practical purpose for either the individual or the department. Forcing participation in such case would be unreasonable.

The state, represented by Deputy Advocate General Ravi Partap Singh, did not dispute the applicability of the precedent.

Accepting the submission, the court disposed of the petition with a direction to the respondents to consider the petitioners’ claim in terms of the earlier judgment.

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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