Compiling Details Of Funds Spent On Ads, Police Vehicles Is Time Taking Process: Punjab Govt Tells High Court, HC Grants Last Chance

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has granted a last opportunity to the Punjab Government to give details on funds spent on publication of advertisements and new vehicles purchased for the police officials considering the submission that it is a "time consuming process."

Justice Sandeep Moudgil said, "Considering the submissions made in...the affidavit that this information that has been sought by this Court needs to be complied after collecting it from various sources and Departments of the State Government spread through the State which is a time consuming process therefore on considering the aforesaid request to be genuine and bona fide, one last opportunity of 04 weeks is granted to the Chief Secretary to Government of Punjab for furnishing necessary information before this Court by way of his own affidavit."

The development came after the Court took note of State's submission that there is a shortage of funds or budget allocation for the purpose to buy modern technology tools for FSL inorder investigate crime wherein "otherwise also there is patently huge amount is spent."

The Court was hearing a regular bail in drugs case wherein the date of arrest was disputed. Counsel for the petitioner argued that the accused was taken into custody on September 14, 2023 but on records it was shown that the arrest was made on September 16, 2023.

Consequently it directed "the State Government, through its Chief Secretary to furnish a detail of expenses met out in this running financial year i.e. from 01.04.2024 till 20.1.2025 on the publication of the advertisements qua the performance and achievements of the Government and the new vehicles purchased for the police officials."

In the present hearing an application was also filed by the Punjab Government to recall the above order.

However the Court dismissed the application and said that, "no cogent reason for recalling the order dated 21.01.2025 wherein Dr. Ashwani Kalia, Director, FSL, Punjab had in clear words admitted to have been short of funds/expenses to purchase the requisite equipments for the three Regional FSL's located at Bathinda, Amritsar and Ludhiana."

While listing the matter for March 11, the Court said that "affidavit along with the necessary information shall be filed in the Registry 03 days prior to the next date of hearing with an advance copy to the learned counsel for the petitioner."

Title: Vinay Kumar v. State of Punjab

Mr. Amardeep Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner in CRM-M-15579-2024.

Mr. Ankur Jain, Advocate, for the petitioner in CRM-M-19581-2024.

Mr. Gaurav, Advocate, for the petitioner in CRM-M-65335-2023.

Mr. Jaspal Guru, AAG, Punjab.

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