Division Bench Stays Single-Judge Order on Punishment for Sentenced Police Officers
Background of the Case A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the September 23, 2025 order passed by Justice Jagmohan Bansal concerning disciplinary action against police personnel sentenced to rigorous imprisonment exceeding one month. The division bench, comprising Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor, stayed the single judge’s ruling on November 13, 2025, during the hearing of an appeal filed by the state government. The stay has been confirmed by Haryana Additional Advocate General, Sanjeev Kaushik. The matter will next be taken up on January 28, 2026. Challenge to Interpretation of Rule 16.2(2) and Rule 16.28 of the Punjab Police Rules The Single Judge’s Findings Justice Jagmohan Bansal had held that: The government cannot impose any punishment other than dismissal where an enrolled police officer is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment exceeding one month, as per Rule 16.2(2) of the Punjab Police Rules (PPR), 1934 (applicable in...