Punjab and Haryana High Court prohibits Bar Association from charging parking fee

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has banned its Bar Association from collecting parking fees from visitors within the court premises. “No parking fee can be charged in the premises of the high court without the permission of UT-Chandigarh Administration and the high court,” the division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal asserted.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by Prithvi Raj Yadav against the Punjab and Haryana High Court and other respondents. Appearing in person before the bench, he contended that parking fee was being charged by the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association from the “advocates, government officials, litigants as well as from the employees of this high court for parking their vehicles in the high court premises”.

Taking a note of his submissions, the bench observed a receipt of Rs 50 parking fee was submitted, which did not indicate the name of the person making or receiving payment. The judges added the court had received similar complaints on the administrative side.

“This court issues a writ of prohibition that henceforth no parking fee shall be charged from any litigant, employee, government officials, advocates etc., visiting the high court. Any violation of this order shall be treated to be contempt of this court. The Registrar-General of this court is directed to communicate this order to the Bar Association president, Advocates-General of both the states of Punjab and Haryana as well as to the president of Employees Association of Punjab and Haryana,” the bench asserted.