Punjab & Haryana High Court Imposes Cost On Advocate For Suppressing Suspension Of His License To Practice

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed costs on an advocate who filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) while suppressing a "material fact" — that his license to practice law had been suspended.

A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry in its order said, "Petitioner does not seem to have come with clean hands as he has not disclosed that his licence, as an advocate, was suspended by the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, vide order dated 23.11.2022, which matter is still pending consideration before the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana".

The court noted that the petitioner had also failed to disclose that his plea challenging the suspension (Simranjeet Singh vs. Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana and others) was dismissed "for want of prosecution vide order dated 28.05.2025". 

Simranjeet Singh, who is an advocate had filed the PIL raising the "alleged public cause" that corruption is taking place in Jalandhar, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and huge amount of money is pending to be recovered from the defaulters.

During the hearing, AG Maninderjit Singh Bedi brought to Court's notice that the petitioner appearing in person is an advocate whose license has been suspended.

"In all fairness, petitioner ought to have disclosed the material facts," the Court remarked.

"The said material facts have been suppressed and therefore, present petition (CWP-PIL-257-2025) stands dismissed with cost of Rs. 15,000/-, which shall be deposited within a period of one week with the Punjab State Legal Services Authority Disaster Relief Fund," it added.

Petitioner in person.

Mr. Maninderjit Singh Bedi, Advocate General, Punjab with Mr. Maninder Singh, Addl. AG, Punjab

Mr. Sangam Garg, Advocate, for PSPCL.

Title: Simranjeet Singh v. State of Punjab and others.

Click here to read/download the order