CHANDIGARH, May 22:— A bomb threat email sent to the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday morning led to an immediate evacuation of the complex and suspension of court proceedings, though no explosives were found during a detailed search.
The email, received by the high court registrar’s office, claimed that an improvised explosive device (IED) had been planted inside the court premises. “On being informed, police launched a thorough search. No suspicious object has been found,” said Chandigarh Police Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Central) Udaypal Singh.
Following the alert, court operations were suspended from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., according to High Court Registrar General Sanjiv Berry. “The safety of all present is our priority. The matter is being taken seriously,” Berry stated.
The High Court Bar Association (HCBA) issued an advisory, urging all members to remain alert and vacate the premises as a precaution. Police teams, including bomb detection and disposal squads, carried out a floor-to-floor sweep of the building.
In total, nine courtrooms — including that of the Chief Justice — were cleared, and all lawyers, staff, and litigants were asked to leave the premises. Access to the high court was restricted, vehicles were screened thoroughly, and heavy security was deployed in the surrounding area.
This incident follows a similar threat the previous day in Ambala, where the deputy commissioner’s office was briefly evacuated after a bomb scare that later proved to be a hoax.
Officials said the investigation into the origin of Thursday’s threat email is underway.
