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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH

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161 CWP-15575-2026

Date of Decision: 18.05.2026

RAMPAL ...Petitioner

Vs.

PRESIDING OFFICER, PERMANENT LOK ADALAT & ANR.

…Respondents

CORAM:- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAGMOHAN BANSAL

Present:- Mr. Parveen Kumar , Advocate (through V.C) and

Mr. Vikas Malik, Advocate for the petitioner

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JAGMOHAN BANSAL, J. (ORAL)

1. The petitioner through instant petition under Article 226/227

of the Constitution of India is seeking setting aside of order dated

23.02.2026 whereby Permanent Lok Adalat, Public Utility Service, Camp

Court at Narnaul (Haryana) (for short ‘PLA’) has dismissed his

application filed under section 22C of Legal Services Authorities Act,

1987 (for short ‘1987 Act’). He is further seeking direction to respondent

No.2 to pay him a sum of Rs.1,00,000/-.

2. On 29.07.2024, petitioner took admission in respondent

No.2’s institute for pursuing a Fertilizer Diploma Course. He deposited

Rs.12,500/- as course fee. He claims that respondent No.2 had assured

him to commence the classes in one week but the same were not

commenced in the stipulated time frame. He served legal notice dated

04.09.2024 asking respondent No.2 to either refund his fee or start the

DEEPAK BISSYAN

2026.05.18 16:41

I attest to the accuracy and

authenticity of this

order/judgment

CWP-15575-2026 -2-

course. Aggrieved by inaction on the part of respondent No.2 he filed

claim before PLA by way of application dated 14.10.2024. Matter was

tried to be reconciled, however, was finally adjudicated on merits. PLA

has concluded that petitioner did not attend training despite the fact that

he had knowledge that training was to be commenced from 01.05.2025 to

16.05.2025. Amount of Rs.12,500/- has rightly been forfeited by

respondent as per guidelines. There is no deficiency on the part of

respondent.

3. Learned counsel for petitioner submits that respondent

violated its oral commitment and PLA has mechanically dismissed his

claim. The petitioner is entitled to refund of Rs.12,500/- along with

compensation.

4. Heard the arguments and perused the record.

5. The petitioner is claiming that respondent was bound to start

Fertilizer Diploma Course within one week from the date of deposit of

fee whereas it was commenced from 01.05.2025. There was clear

violation of commitment by respondent-Institute.

6. The findings recorded by PLA read as :-

“10. In the present case it is the admission of the

respondent that the applicant had taken an admission to

attend the diploma course and had deposited an amount of

Rs. 12,500/- on account of diploma fee. In Para No.2 of

the application it is specifically pleaded by the applicant

that at the time of taking the admission the respondent had

assured the applicant that the classes shall be started

within seven days from 29.07.2024. This fact has been

denied specifically by the respondent. No documentary

evidence whatsoever has been produced by the applicant

DEEPAK BISSYAN

2026.05.18 16:41

I attest to the accuracy and

authenticity of this

order/judgment

CWP-15575-2026 -3-

to prove this fact except the pleadings as mentioned in

Para No.2 of the application. It is a settled law that mere

pleadings are not sufficient unless and until the pleadings

are proved by producing cogent and convincing evidence.

In these circumstances it cannot be said that the

respondent had assured the applicant that the diploma

classes shall be started within seven days after 29.07.2024.

11. Apart from the deposit slip of Rs.12,500/- no other

documentary evidence has been produced by the applicant

to prove the contents of the application. On the other hand,

the respondent has produced the documentary evidence to

prove the contents of the reply. Ex.R1 is the guidelines for

the diploma wherein in Annexure-I it is clearly mentioned

that the course fee is Rs.12,500/- per candidate for 15 days

for a batch of 30 candidates under Self-Finance Mode.

Meaning thereby the course was to be started for a batch

of 30 candidates. It is also mentioned in the guidelines that

after fina