Amount to be deducted from salaries and deposited into Chief Minister’s Relief Fund; court warns officials against repeated non-compliance
In a stern rebuke to top state officials, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has slapped a ₹2 lakh fine on Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav and three senior IAS officers for willfully ignoring court directives related to action against illegally modified vehicles plying across the state.
The penalty follows a contempt petition filed by the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Mini Transport Welfare Association, which alleged that despite multiple court orders, authorities failed to enforce provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, against unauthorized vehicle modifications.
Court Notes ‘Intentional Defiance’ of Judicial Orders
Justice Sudeepti Sharma, presiding over the case, observed that the officers had displayed a “consistent pattern of deliberate non-compliance” and neglected their responsibility to uphold the court’s previous directions.
As per the ruling, the fine will be recovered directly from the officers’ monthly salaries, with ₹50,000 to be deducted from each of the following:
Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police, Punjab
Pradeep Kumar (IAS), Secretary, Transport Department
Manish Kumar (IAS), State Transport Commissioner
Jitendra Jorwal (IAS), Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur
The total amount is to be deposited into the Punjab Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, the court directed.
Repeat Offense Draws Sharper Judicial Response
Highlighting a recurring pattern of disregard, the bench noted that this was not the first instance of disobedience. In September 2024, the same officials had been fined ₹1 lakh for failing to implement anti-modification measures. Instead of executing the order, the officers filed petitions seeking modification and recall of the ruling — motions which were later dismissed by the court as “frivolous and evasive.”
Justice Sharma remarked that such actions demonstrated “a troubling lack of respect for judicial authority and for the principles of administrative accountability.”
Mandatory Salary Deduction and Proof of Compliance
The court further ordered that the penalty amount be deducted directly from the officers’ salaries and directed them to submit proof of payment of the earlier ₹1 lakh fine, which remains outstanding. The matter will be reheard on November 27, when the court expects a comprehensive compliance report from all four officers.
Backdrop: Punjab’s Battle Against Illegal Vehicle Alterations
The case originates from public interest litigation concerning the unchecked presence of illegally modified commercial vehicles across Punjab. These include buses, trucks, and mini-transport vehicles fitted with unauthorized structural, sound, or lighting modifications in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act and safety standards.
Despite multiple court directives to initiate strict enforcement, the state machinery allegedly failed to take meaningful steps, prompting the High Court to initiate contempt proceedings against senior police and administrative officials.
The court’s strong stance serves as a clear reminder that judicial orders are not optional and that administrative neglect will invite direct accountability — even at the highest levels of the state bureaucracy.
