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HC pulls up Haryana govt for refusing to admit mistake and fighting a 32-year-old case ‘without any substantial question of law’

Punjab and Haryana High Court upholds compensation for Sonipat villager, notes the State Govt kept litigating despite “concurrent findings” against it.

Written by: Manraj Grewal Sharma
3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Nov 27, 2025 07:46 PM IST
In a judgment pronounced on November 26, Justice Deepak Gupta said the State of Haryana had refused to accept its mistake despite clear evidence and repeated judicial findings, choosing instead to continue approaching the courts “without any substantial question of law.”In a judgment pronounced on November 26, Justice Deepak Gupta said the State of Haryana had refused to accept its mistake despite clear evidence and repeated judicial findings, choosing instead to continue approaching the courts “without any substantial question of law.” (Credit: Pixabay)
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Coming down on the Haryana government for pursuing litigation “with no arguable ground” for over three decades, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a 24-year-old Regular Second Appeal in a case where two lower courts had already held the state liable for damaging a villager’s house due to leaking water pipelines.

In a judgment pronounced on November 26, Justice Deepak Gupta said the State of Haryana had refused to accept its mistake despite clear evidence and repeated judicial findings, choosing instead to continue approaching the courts “without any substantial question of law.”

The case dates back to 1993, when Balbir Singh of village Bichpari in Sonipat sued the State and its Public Health Department for compensation after persistent leakage from newly laid PVC water pipelines allegedly weakened the foundations of his two houses, causing them to collapse. The trial court, in 1999, found the damage was directly linked to the department’s failure to repair the leaks despite repeated complaints, and awarded Singh Rs 2 lakh with 12 per cent annual interest. The first appellate court upheld this in 2000.

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Instead of complying, the state filed a Regular Second Appeal in 2001, denying any leakage and insisting that no complaints were ever received. It argued that the house collapse was due to other structural or natural causes.

Justice Gupta noted that both the trial court and the first appellate court had already undertaken a detailed assessment of the evidence, including the site plan and witness accounts, and had conclusively held the Public Health Department negligent. When asked during the hearing, the State’s counsel “fairly conceded” that the appeal arose only from concurrent findings of fact and that no substantial question of law could be raised.

Despite this, the State persisted with its challenge for 24 years.

Reiterating that the High Court cannot reappreciate evidence in a second appeal, Justice Gupta said no perversity, misreading of evidence, or material irregularity had been shown.

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“Once the First Appellate Court… has upheld the trial court’s findings, this court cannot substitute its own view merely because another conclusion is possible,” he held while affirming the Rs 2 lakh compensation.

With Wednesday’s ruling, the High Court closed a litigation trail that had stretched across three decades, driven largely by the government’s unwillingness to accept negligence established repeatedly by the courts.

Manraj Grewal Sharma
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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