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143 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH

CWP-PIL-212-2026 (O&M)

Date of Decision: 10th August, 2026.

PRADEEP SINGH .…...Petitioner(s)

V/s UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS ......Respondent(s)

CORAM: HON'BLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ROHIT KAPOOR

Present Mr. Jagmohan Singh Bhatti, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Satya Pal Jain, Addl. Solicitor General of India, with Ms. Saigeeta Srivastava, Advocate,

for respondents No.1 & 2-UOI.

Mr. Chetan Mittal, Senior Advocate, assisted by Mr. Ranjit Singh Kalra, Advocate,

Mr. Avichal Sharma, Advocate, and Mr. Adhiraj Sood, Advocates

for respondent No.4-High Court.

Mr. Maninder Singh Garcha, Senior Advocate, Addl. Advocate General, Punjab assisted by

Ms. Samdisha Kaur, AAG, Punjab.

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ASHWANI KUMAR MISHRA, A.C.J. (Oral)

1. This PIL petition has been filed by Sh. Pradeep Singh with the following prayers:-

(i) Issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents No.1 and 2–Union of India to keep in abeyance the recommendations made by the Punjab and Haryana High Court as well as by Hon’ble the Supreme Court, and

SURESH KUMAR

2026.08.13 18:22 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CWP-PIL-212-2026 (O&M)

Page 2 of 11

further to recall the recommendation pertaining to private respondent No. 8, Shri Pravindra Chauhan, for his appointment as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High

Court; and

(ii) To direct respondent No.4-Punjab and Haryana High Court, not to execute the warrant of appointment of respondent No.8 for administering Oath as a Judge of this

High Court.

2. At the very outset, an objection is raised by the respondents

with regard to maintainability of the present PIL petition, on the ground that the same has been filed as an act of vengeance against private respondent No.8, whose name has been recommended for appointment

to the post of Judge of this Court.

3. It has been pointed out that the petitioner had earlier filed a

PIL petition, bearing No. CWP-PIL-141-2025, seeking issuance of Writ in the nature of quo warranto, challenging the appointment of private respondent No.8 as an Advocate General, Haryana, which was dismissed by this Court vide order dated 21.01.2026. It is further pointed that in

the previous round of litigation, the petitioner has stated as under:-

“7) On Dated: 09-14/11/2023, Vigilance Department, W/Chief Secretary's (CS's) Office/Government of Haryana (GoH), Chandigarh (UT) requests & directs the W/Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Energy Department (ED)/Government of Haryana (GoH) to enquire/investigate into & submit the subsequent Legal Action Taken Report (ATR) As Per (the) Law,

SURESH KUMAR

2026.08.13 18:22 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CWP-PIL-212-2026 (O&M)

Page 3 of 11

Rules & Regulations into this serious corruption/scam/scandal of illegally purchased Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) car(s) in the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), Panchkula [by all (the) concerned entity(s) involved into it] but deliberately kept pending till date with No Legal Action taken/executed on it rather deliberate discreet silence kept/maintained till date as if this criminal complaint deliberately been closed/filed by (all) the concerned (involved)

for the reason(s) best known to himself/themselves.

* Crux of This Criminal Case *:

The HERC, Panchkula (Hry.) illegally bought/purchased Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) car(s) at costlier price(s)/rate(s) beyond their legal entitlement after/by manually collecting the. Quotation(s) from tricity Toyota Car Dealers)/Vendor(s) deliberately in contravention violating the Central (open) Government/State Government strict (compliance) instruction(s) of mandatory eProcurement via only the GEM Portal & eBidding/e Tendering by DSSD for complying, ensuring & maintaining transparency in every procurement by deliberately dropping/rejecting the lowest quotation(s) offered & submitted by the Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) Ltd. & same deliberately been removed, stolen & d