Petitioner Must Come with 'Clean Hands' in PIL; Suppression of Facts Warrants Dismissal with Costs: Punjab & Haryana High Court

P&H High Court Dismisses PIL on Corruption, Imposes Costs on Petitioner for Suppressing Facts

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging corruption, imposing costs of ₹15,000 on the petitioner for failing to approach the court with "clean hands." A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry ruled that the petitioner's deliberate suppression of material facts warranted the dismissal.

Case Background

The petition, filed by Simranjeet Singh, raised concerns about alleged corruption within the Jalandhar division of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). Singh claimed that a significant amount of money was pending recovery from defaulters, pointing to a matter of public interest.

Court's Findings and Reasoning

The High Court, however, shifted its focus from the petition's merits to the petitioner's conduct. The bench discovered that Singh had concealed crucial information about his professional standing.

The judgment highlighted two significant omissions: 1. The petitioner failed to disclose that his license as an advocate had been suspended by the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana in an order dated November 23, 2022. 2. He also suppressed the fact that his subsequent challenge to this suspension (CWP-27425-2022) had been dismissed for non-prosecution by the court on May 28, 2025.

Judgment Excerpt

In its oral judgment, the Court unequivocally stated its reasoning for the dismissal:

"Petitioner does not seem to have come with clean hands as he has not disclosed that his licence, as an advocate, was suspended... In all fairness, petitioner ought to have disclosed the material facts. The said material facts have been suppressed and therefore, present petition stands dismissed with cost of Rs. 15,000/-."

Final Decision and Implications

The Court emphasized that petitioners in a PIL have a higher duty to be transparent and disclose all relevant facts. By concealing information directly pertinent to his credibility and standing, the petitioner violated the fundamental principle that one must approach the court with "clean hands."

Consequently, the PIL (CWP-PIL-257-2025) was dismissed. The petitioner has been directed to deposit the fine of ₹15,000 with the Punjab State Legal Services Authority Disaster Relief Fund within one week. This ruling serves as a stern reminder that the judiciary will not entertain petitions from individuals who fail to maintain complete candor, especially in matters of public interest.