The Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed costs on an advocate who filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) while failing to disclose a crucial fact, that his license to practice law had been suspended.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry observed, “Petitioner does not seem to have come with clean hands as he has not disclosed that his licence, as an advocate, was suspended by the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, vide order dated 23.11.2022, which matter is still pending consideration before the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana.”
The Court further noted that the petitioner had also withheld information regarding his earlier challenge to the suspension in the matter of Simranjeet Singh vs. Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana and others, which had been dismissed for want of prosecution on 28.05.2025.
Simranjeet Singh, appearing as the petitioner, had approached the Court with a PIL alleging corruption in the Jalandhar unit of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), and sought action to recover substantial sums claimed to be due from defaulters.
During the proceedings, Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi brought to the Court’s attention that the petitioner, representing himself, was an advocate whose license had been suspended.
“In all fairness, petitioner ought to have disclosed the material facts,” the Bench remarked, emphasizing the importance of transparency in PILs.
Ultimately, the Court dismissed the petition and directed the advocate to pay costs of Rs. 15,000 within one week, to be deposited with the Punjab State Legal Services Authority Disaster Relief Fund.
Case Title: Simranjeet Singh Vs. State of Punjab and others
Case No: CWP-PIL-257-2025
Coram: Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Sanjiv Berry
Advocate for Appellant: Petitioner in person
Advocate for Respondent: Advocate General, Maninderjit Singh Bedi, Addl. Maninder Singh, Adv. Sangam Garg
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