Punjab & Haryana High Court Imposes ₹50,000 Cost For Forum Shopping
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has levied a cost of ₹50,000 on a petitioner for abusing the process of law by engaging in forum shopping and filing an unmeritorious contempt petition concerning a civil dispute.
The case involved allegations that authorities had violated the Supreme Court’s ruling in Rajeeb Kalita vs. Union of India & Others by disconnecting the petitioner’s water supply.
A Bench of Justice Sudeepti Sharma held, “It is evident that the petitioner has engaged in what can only be described as a frivolous and vexatious litigation spree, seemingly driven by a misplaced sense of grievance. Such conduct constitutes a gross abuse of the judicial process and contributes significantly to the burgeoning pendency of cases before this Court.”
Advocate jagmohan singh bhatti appeared for the Petitioner and Advocate Animesh Sharma appeared for the Respondents.
In the Rajeeb Kalita judgment, the Supreme Court had affirmed that access to proper sanitation facilities is a fundamental right protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. The petitioner attempted to invoke this ruling to claim that the disconnection of water supply amounted to contempt of the Supreme Court’s judgment.
However, the High Court took the view that the matter at hand was purely civil in nature and therefore outside the scope of its contempt jurisdiction. The Court noted, “The petitioner, despite being specifically directed by this Court to avail appropriate civil remedies in accordance with law, has persisted in pressing this contempt petition without any tenable basis.”
The Court underscored the broader implications of such misuse, observing that the increasing trend among litigants to manipulate judicial forums by engaging in forum shopping, repeatedly filing meritless petitions, and employing dilatory tactics undermines the very foundation of the legal system. It emphasized that these practices hinder the effective administration of justice.
The Court referred to the Supreme Court’s decision in Dalip Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Others wherein the Apex Court had issued a stern caution against the rise of a new class of unscrupulous litigants who, devoid of respect for the truth, resort to unethical and dishonest means in pursuit of legal relief.
The Court further remarked that the petitioner’s actions in initiating frivolous litigation amounted to a gross misuse of the judicial machinery, thereby wasting the precious time and resources of the Court.
Calling the present case a “stark example” of abuse of the judicial process, the Court underscored the importance of maintaining the integrity of the justice delivery system and preventing it from being compromised by irresponsible litigants.
In a move intended to send a “strong deterrent message,” the Court imposed a cost of ₹50,000 on the petitioner. It directed, “The said amount shall be deposited by the petitioner within a period of two months from the date of this judgment with the treasure of Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, which shall be utilized for construction/renovation of Women Bar Room, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh.”
Cause Title: Payal Chaudhary v. KAP Sinha IAS & Ors., [2025:PHHC:095351]