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Punjab and Haryana HC comes down heavily on frivolous contempt plea, imposes Rs 30,000 costs

Justice Sudeepti Sharma cited the ‘Subrata Roy Sahara versus Union of India’ case, in which the Supreme Court had lamented that the Indian judicial system is ‘grossly afflicted with frivolous litigation’.

3 min readJan 9, 2026 06:47 PM IST

During the hearing, counsel for the respondents told the court that the direction had already been complied with and that a speaking order had been passed on August 21, 2025.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court Thursday dismissed a contempt petition and imposed costs of Rs 30,000 on the petitioner after finding that the directive had already been implemented.

The petition was filed by one Parkash Singh, alleging deliberate disobedience of a July 7, 2025, order passed in a writ petition. In that order, the high court had directed the respondents to decide a legal notice dated May 1, 2025, by passing a speaking order.

During the hearing, counsel for the respondents told the court that the direction had already been complied with and that a speaking order had been passed on August 21, 2025. A copy of that order was placed on record and had also been supplied to the petitioner’s counsel.

Thereafter, the single-judge bench of Justice Sudeepti Sharma observed, “Despite the fact that order dated 07.07.2025 has already been complied with, the petitioner has filed the present contempt petition, which is not even maintainable.” It added that such conduct “amounts to gross abuse of the judicial process and contributes significantly to the burgeoning pendency of cases before this Court.”

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The court went on to situate the case within a wider pattern of misuse of court processes, relying on an earlier decision of the same high court in the ‘Payal Chaudhary versus KAP Sinha IAS and others’ case, as well as multiple Supreme Court judgments cautioning against frivolous litigation.

Quoting from the Payal Chaudhary case, Justice Sharma underscored that engaging in “frivolous and vexatious litigation” undermines the foundations of the legal system.

Thursday’s order also reproduced strong observations of the Supreme Court in ‘Dalip Singh versus State of Uttar Pradesh’, where the apex court had flagged the rise of what it described as a “new creed of litigants” with no respect for truth. Such litigants, the Supreme Court had said, “shamelessly resort to falsehood and unethical means” and are not entitled to any relief if they attempt to pollute the stream of justice.

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Justice Sharma further cited the ‘Subrata Roy Sahara versus Union of India’ case, in which the Supreme Court had lamented that the Indian judicial system is “grossly afflicted with frivolous litigation” and reminded courts that for every irresponsible claim, there is “an innocent sufferer on the other side” who endures prolonged anxiety through no fault of their own.

Applying these principles to the case at hand, the high court said it was “incumbent upon this Court to safeguard the sanctity of judicial proceedings and to prevent their exploitation by unscrupulous litigants”. It emphasised that the time and resources of the court must be preserved for bona fide grievances that genuinely merit judicial consideration.

Dismissing the contempt petition, the court imposed costs of Rs 30,000 on the petitioner for filing what it termed a frivolous plea. The amount is to be paid to the respondents in equal shares of Rs 10,000 each within two weeks.

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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Punjab and Haryana High Court

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