CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 — The Punjab government informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday that two government accommodations in Malerkotla, including the PWD Guest House and the official residence of the Senior Superintendent of Police, have been vacated and allotted for judicial use.
Taking on record a compliance report supported by letters from the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, Malerkotla, dated Dec. 19, a Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu said the directions issued on Sept. 12 and Oct. 1 “stand complied with.”
The court noted that both premises had been vacated and made available for use by the District and Sessions Judge, either as residential accommodation or for court-related purposes.
Clarifying the interim nature of the arrangement, the Bench directed that the District and Sessions Judge, Sangrur, who is currently overseeing the Sessions Division of Malerkotla, would decide how best to utilise the two buildings.
“The premises may be put to best use either for residential or for court purposes, as the case may be,” the court said, adding that the arrangement would remain “subject to further orders passed by this Court.”
The Bench also declined to impose rigid timelines on the use of the premises, noting submissions that the allotment should not be time-bound.
During the hearing, the court was informed that permanent infrastructure was already under construction in Malerkotla, including a dedicated courtroom and residential accommodation for judicial officers. Officials said more than seven houses, apart from the Sessions Judge’s residence, were being built.
The compliance came nearly three months after the High Court directed the state to vacate the guesthouse and residences occupied by senior district officials to address the shortage of judicial housing.
Earlier, the Bench had strongly criticised the state over the absence of permanent accommodation for judicial officers in several districts, calling the situation “strange” and “shocking.”
