Punjab-Haryana High Court
Dr Sanjiv Puri vs Dr. Harminder Singh Khokhar on 15 October, 2025
CACP-116-2025 (O&M) 1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
CACP-116-2025 (O&M)
Date of Decision :15.10.2025
DR SANJIV PURI ........APPELLANT
Vs
DR. HARMINDER SINGH KHOKHAR .......RESPONDENTS
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHWANI KUMAR MISHRA
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ROHIT KAPOOR
Present : Mr. H.S.Batth, Advocate,
for the appellant.
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ROHIT KAPOOR, J.
1. Present contempt appeal has been filed for setting aside the order dated 25.09.2025, passed by the learned contempt court in COCP No. 3000-2025, whereby, a cost of Rs. 50,000/- has been imposed upon the appellant, which is to be deducted from his salary.
2. Brief facts required to be noticed are that the respondent (hereinafter referred to as the 'petitioner') claimed interest @ 12% per annum on the delayed payment of his salary of the Punjabi University Patiala. Aggrieved by the inaction of the university, he submitted a legal notice dated 14.01.2025, which did not illicit any response. It transpires that a writ petition bearing CWP-6687-2005 was filed by the petitioner seeking directions for release of the interest on the delayed payment of arrears of salary.
3. The said petition was disposed of vide order 18.03.2025 with a direction to the respondents therein, to decide the legal notice dated 1 of 4 ::: Downloaded on - 10-11-2025 06:26:30 ::: CACP-116-2025 (O&M) 2 14.01.2025, expeditiously and in accordance with law. It was further directed that if the petitioner is found entitled, the benefit would be granted forthwith. It was also observed that if adverse orders are passed, then the same shall contain reasons and the petitioner shall be free to seek legal redress thereupon.
4. Alleging non-compliance of order dated 18.03.2025 passed in CWP-6687-2025, the aforementioned contempt petition was filed against the appellant.
5. Records reveal that, despite grant of opportunities, the compliance report was not filed, on more than one occasion. A speaking order dated 26.08.2025, was ultimately passed in purported compliance of the order 18.03.2025 of the Writ Court, in which it was stated that on account of financial crunch, it is not possible for the University to make the payment of interest.
6. The aforementioned speaking order was placed before the contempt court on 27.08.2025, yet vide its order of even date, the contempt court observed that perusal of the speaking order shows, that though claim of the petitioner is accepted, yet, the benefit has been declined on the ground of financial crunch. It was observed that this would amount to non- compliance of the order passed by the writ court. Accordingly, a last opportunity was granted to the appellant to comply with the order passed by the Writ Court, failing which cost of Rs.50,000/- would be imposed.
7. The learned counsel for the appellant submits that on the next date of hearing i.e., 25.09.2025, the appellant produced an order dated 2 of 4 ::: Downloaded on - 10-11-2025 06:26:30 ::: CACP-116-2025 (O&M) 3 24.09.2025 before the learned Contempt Court, wherein it was stated that the University would pay the interest in instalments, however, the road map produced was not accepted and the following order was passed:
"On the last date of hearing, the respondent was granted last opportunity to comply with the order dated 18.03.2025 passed by this Courtin CWP-6687-2025, failing which a cost of Rs.50,000/- was to be imposed upon the respondent.
Till date, respondent has not filed any compliance report. Accordingly, a cost of Rs.50,000/- is imposed upon the respondent, which is to be deducted from his salary and deposited with the Poor Patients Welfare Fund, PGIMER, Chandigarh. Now, one more opportunity is granted to the respondent to comply with the order dated 18.03.2025 passed by this Court in CWP-6687- 2025, failing which an additional cost of Rs.1,00,000/- shall be impoed upon the respondent.
Adjourned to 20.11.2025."
8. It is also pointed out that the appellant who was holding an additional charge on the post of Registrar, relinquished the same on 04.08.2025 and now a new incumbent, namely, Dr. Devinder Pal Singh, has taken over as Registrar. However, on 25.09.2025 when the cost was imposed, the said fact could not be brought to the notice of the learned Contempt Court inadvertently. It is further pointed out that the University had complied with the order dated 18.03.2025 and made the entire payment of interest, which is evident from a perusal of the copy of demand draft dated 26.09.2025 for an amount of Rs. 07,67,785/- (Annexure A-6). It is further urged that the appellant as well as the new incumbent Registrar moved two separate applications for substitution, and for disposal of the contempt petition in view of the fact that the order of the Writ Court stood complied with. Another application was moved for recalling of the 3 of 4 ::: Downloaded on - 10-11-2025 06:26:30 ::: CACP-116-2025 (O&M) 4 impugned order, imposing costs (Annexures A7 to A-9). However, learned Contempt Court ordered the applications to be heard alongwith the main petition on the date already fixed. It is in this backdrop that prayer is made for setting aside of the impugned order dated 25.09.2025.
9. We have heard learned counsel for the appellant, and have perused the documents appended with the appeal.
10. At the outset, we expressed our disinclination to interfere in the matter, in view of the fact that the contempt petition as well as the applications referred to above, are pending before the learned Contempt Court. However, keeping in view the factum regarding the appellant having relinquished charge on 04.08.2025, as well as the fact that the order passed by the Writ Court is stated to have been complied with, we dispose of the present appeal with a direction that no coercive steps shall be taken qua the recovery of the costs imposed upon the appellant, till the final consideration of his application by the learned Contempt Court.
11. The appeal is disposed of in the aforesaid terms.
12. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of accordingly.
(ASHWANI KUMAR MISHRA) (ROHIT KAPOOR)
JUDGE JUDGE
15.10.2025
smriti
Whether speaking/reasoned. : Yes/No
Whether Reportable. : Yes/No
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