Chandigarh, Oct 28: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed a ₹2 lakh cost on four senior Punjab officers, including Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, for failing to comply with a previous court order related to action against modified vehicles plying in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Justice Sudeepti Sharma directed that the amount be recovered equally—₹50,000 each—from the officers’ salaries and deposited in the Punjab Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The other three officers penalized are IAS officers Pardeep Kumar (Secretary, Department of Transport), Moneesh Kumar (State Transport Commissioner), and Jitendra Jorwal (Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur).
The order came while hearing a contempt petition, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Mini Transport Welfare Association Punjab vs. State of Punjab and Others, which alleged non-compliance with the court’s 2023 directive instructing authorities to curb the menace of illegally modified vehicles on Punjab’s roads.
The court observed that despite repeated opportunities, the respondents failed to submit compliance affidavits or proof of cost payment, showing “persistent and deliberate disobedience.” Instead, they filed applications seeking modification and recall of earlier orders—both of which were dismissed as “devoid of merit.”
Justice Sharma also noted contradictions in reports submitted by the police and transport department regarding challaned and impounded vehicles, calling it evidence of “lack of diligence and seriousness.”
The High Court has listed the matter for further hearing on November 27. (Agencies)
