8 months ago
HC Orders Punjab to Release Rs 50 Lakh for Lawyers' Chambers
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has told the Punjab government to give Rs 50 lakh to the Bar Association in Baba Bakala Sahib.
This money is for building rooms for lawyers and a library.
The Bar Association had already started building the rooms and spent a lot of their own money.
The government said they didn't get the right papers, but the court said that's not a good enough reason to not give the money.
The court wants the government to give the money by February 10, 2026, after checking the work.
The Bar Association has to help the government check the building.
Punjab and Haryana High Court directs Punjab government to release Rs 50 lakh for lawyers' chambers and Rs 2 lakh for a bar library to the Bar Association, Baba Bakala Sahib.
Bar Association had started construction in December 2018 and built over 30 chambers, each costing over Rs 4 lakh.
State argued that the association had not submitted estimates vetted by the Public Works Department (PWD), a mandatory requirement under the policy.
High Court rejected the state's stand, stating that the objection regarding non-vetting of estimates could not justify the denial of the grant.
Court directed the state to release the grant by February 10, 2026, after an engineer visits the site and submits a report by January 15, 2026.
- Who
- Punjab and Haryana High Court, Punjab Government, Bar Association Baba Bakala Sahib
- What
- High Court directs Punjab to release Rs 50 lakh for lawyers' chambers and Rs 2 lakh for a bar library
- Where
- Baba Bakala Sahib, Punjab
- When
- Construction started in December 2018; Grant to be released by February 10, 2026
- Why
- Bar Association fulfilled conditions and spent over 50% of construction cost; High Court rejected state's procedural objections
Key facts
- Grant Amount
- Rs 50 lakh for chambers, Rs 2 lakh for library
- Bar Association
- Baba Bakala Sahib
- Policy Year
- 2002 (modified in 2009)
- Construction Start Date
- December 2018
- Chambers Built
- Over 30
- Cost per Chamber
- Exceeds Rs 4 lakh
- Report Submission Deadline
- January 15, 2026
- Grant Release Deadline
- February 10, 2026
Quotes
Justice Anoop Chitkara and Justice Sukhvinder Kaur
Division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court
“it is no one’s case that the Bar Association… is not entitled to Rs.50 lakhs for construction of chambers and Rs.2 lakhs for the library fund subject to matching grant”
indianexpress.com
“Nothing had stopped such Executive Engineer to direct visit of the spot and preparation of estimate by taking Bar Association into confidence but it was not done”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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