Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed a ₹2 lakh penalty on four senior officers – including Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav and three IAS officers – for willful non-compliance with its directions to act against illegally modified vehicles operating across the state.
The order came while hearing a contempt petition filed by the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Mini Transport Welfare Association, which accused the authorities of ignoring repeated court instructions on enforcing the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Court Observes ‘Deliberate Disregard’ of Orders
Justice Sudeepti Sharma, who heard the matter, noted that the officials had shown a “consistent and deliberate disregard” for judicial orders and failed to ensure compliance despite multiple opportunities.
The court ordered that the ₹2 lakh penalty be recovered equally from the salaries of –
- Gaurav Yadav, DGP, Punjab
- Pradeep Kumar (IAS), Secretary, Transport Department
- Manish Kumar (IAS), State Transport Commissioner
- Jitendra Jorwal (IAS), Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur
The fine amount will be deposited in the Punjab Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, the court directed.
Officers Earlier Fined ₹1 Lakh for Same Violation
The bench pointed out that this is not the first instance of defiance. In its earlier order dated September 2, the court had imposed a ₹1 lakh penalty on the same officers for their failure to act against illegal vehicle modifications.
Instead of complying, the officers moved applications seeking modification and recall of the order, which were subsequently dismissed as baseless.
Justice Sharma remarked that this conduct reflected a casual and evasive attitude toward judicial directions and the rule of law.
Salary Deduction and Compliance Ordered
The High Court has now ordered that ₹50,000 each be deducted directly from the monthly salary of the four officers. Additionally, the court directed them to produce proof of deposit of the earlier ₹1 lakh fine that had not yet been submitted.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on November 27, where the officers are expected to file a detailed compliance report.
Background: Crackdown on Illegal Vehicle Modifications
The court’s directives stem from ongoing public interest litigation concerning the operation of illegally modified commercial vehicles in Punjab. These include transport vehicles with unauthorized structural changes and sound or lighting modifications that violate safety norms under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Despite repeated orders, the state authorities reportedly failed to take concrete action, prompting the court to initiate contempt proceedings against top officials.
