The Punjab and Haryana High Court has adopted a cautious and pragmatic stance in response to ongoing PILs seeking judicial direction on flood relief and rehabilitation. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry, declined to immediately entertain petitions demanding detailed responses from the state governments at a time when officials were fully immersed in on-ground relief efforts.
Petitioners had sought sweeping court intervention under provisions of the Disaster Management Act, including the constitution of a court-monitored oversight committee to supervise relief measures, conduct special assessments of damage—involving girdawari operations—and ensure the implementation of emergency action plans under relevant statutory frameworks. Yet the bench chose not to pass any interim orders that might divert administrative focus.
Instead, the court urged petitioners to exercise restraint and wait for the crisis to pass, underscoring that government officials—including officers critical to relief work—should not be diverted to prepare court affidavits. The bench warned that initiating formal proceedings at this juncture could lead to the sidelining of essential personnel who should remain focused on ground response instead of judicial compliance.
The court then directed that the state governments should be allowed six weeks following the abatement of the crisis to file their affidavits detailing relief operations. This timeline was set to ensure that factual responses are based on comprehensive and substantiated ground realities, rather than fragmented or premature accounts.
In rejecting the plea for immediate orders, the bench relied on the principle that judicial processes must not impede rescue operations or burden administrative machinery at times of crisis. The court’s approach signals deference to the operational needs of disaster response systems, while preserving the ability of courts to conduct oversight once the immediate emergency subsides.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing in four weeks, allowing time for the states to consolidate information and respond meaningfully. till then, the court has prioritized uninterrupted relief work, demonstrating sensitivity to both enforcement of legal obligations and urgency of humanitarian circumstances.
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