CHANDIGARH, MAY 22 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed a petition filed by Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and imposed a fine of ₹6 lakh on him regarding the encroachment of Gram Panchayat land, Aam Aadmi Party officials stated Thursday.
AAP Punjab State Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu declared that the legal outcome refutes claims of political bias and establishes that the rule of law applies equally to all citizens. The case involves allegations of an unauthorized blockade on a public passage within Ramgarh village.
“The court decision has crushed the arrogance of Sukhpal Singh Khaira and exposed his real face,” Pannu asserted during a press conference. He maintained that the legislator has routinely leveled accusations against adversaries while personally engaging in property violations.
Official documents, including satellite images, junior engineer assessments, and the Ramgarh Gram Panchayat measurement book, verified that the disputed site was a public street intended for common use. Local testimonies indicated that an installed gate blocked the path, presenting a hazard for emergency service vehicles like police and ambulances.
The court noted that the petition was drafted carefully to simulate a breach of higher judicial directives when the core matter remained an issue of public property encroachment. According to judicial findings, contempt proceedings should not serve as an avenue for executing political or administrative disputes.
The fine will be divided equally among the respondents involved in the case. Authorities clarified that any failure to fulfill the financial penalty would result in the collection of funds as arrears of land revenue.
Pannu affirmed that the administration previously faced political resistance from the MLA when executing the removal of the obstruction. He added that the court order systematically disproves the narrative maintained by the legislator on public platforms.
