Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Punjab AAP Government Faces Expanding Judicial Scrutiny Before Elections
Punjab’s government has disagreed with several decisions involving courts and the central government.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann did not attend the ceremony for Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra.
The Punjab Cabinet had asked the Centre to pause the appointment, but the ceremony went ahead.
The High Court has questioned or stopped several government policies.
These included plans for land development, taller buildings, farmhouse construction and the use of welfare money.
Courts have also examined recruitment exams, police conduct and tree cutting.
Another dispute concerns water released from the Bhakra dam to Haryana.
The Aam Aadmi Party says these cases show Punjab standing up to the Centre, especially before elections.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann skipped Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra’s swearing-in as Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice.
The AAP government challenged a ruling requiring it to pay pending dearness allowance instalments to state employees.
The High Court stayed or questioned major policies involving land pooling, building rules, farmhouses, welfare funds and recruitment.
Courts have also scrutinized Punjab’s policing, prison administration, environmental protections and handling of Bhakra dam water.
AAP is presenting the disputes as part of a broader conflict between Punjab’s rights and the BJP-led Centre before state elections.
- Who
- The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Centre and the Punjab Governor are involved.
- What
- Punjab’s policies, finances, appointments, recruitment, policing, environmental decisions and water-related actions have faced judicial scrutiny.
- When
- The disputes described span 2023 through July 2026, with the political conflict intensifying before the Punjab Assembly elections.
- Where
- The matters concern Punjab, the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh, the Bhakra dam and the Shivalik-Kandi belt.
- Why
- Courts raised concerns about legal compliance, public finances, environmental impacts, recruitment irregularities, police accountability and the use of funds.
Punjab Government and AAP Position
Centre and Judicial Concerns
Chief Justice appointment
Punjab Government and AAP Position
Punjab’s Cabinet said Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra’s appointment and oath should be paused until Punjab’s views were obtained and considered.
Centre and Judicial Concerns
The Centre proceeded with the appointment, and Governor Gulab Chand Kataria administered the oath.
State rights and central authority
Punjab Government and AAP Position
The Aam Aadmi Party portrays the disputes as Punjab resisting the BJP-led Centre’s high-handed actions and defending state rights.
Centre and Judicial Concerns
The Centre has proceeded with decisions challenged by Punjab, while courts have issued orders requiring the state to follow legal or administrative directions.
Government policies and finances
Punjab Government and AAP Position
The Punjab government pursued land development, building, welfare and other policies, and argued financial constraints in the employee allowance dispute.
Centre and Judicial Concerns
The courts questioned statutory compliance, infrastructure planning, environmental safeguards, fund restrictions and spending priorities, including continued advertising and discretionary expenses.
- Chief Justice appointment
- Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after the Centre rejected Punjab’s request to delay the process.
- Employee dues
- The Punjab government moved a special leave petition against a ruling directing it to clear pending dearness allowance instalments.
- Land Pooling Policy
- The High Court stayed the 2025 policy over concerns including missing social and environmental impact assessments; the government later withdrew it.
- Building rules
- The High Court stayed the 2025 Punjab Unified Building Rules, including the Stilt+4 provision, and the government rolled them back by April 2026.
- Welfare funds
- In July 2026, the High Court stayed a proposal to divert the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board corpus to other schemes.
- Recruitment cases
- The High Court stayed pharmacy officer appointments and Punjab State Rural Livelihoods Mission selections amid allegations of examination and marking irregularities.
- BBMB dispute
- In May 2025, the High Court restrained Punjab Police from interfering with the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s release of water to Haryana.