PTC Web Desk: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a notice to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on an appeal filed by the Chandigarh Administration against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's decision to quash a criminal case registered against him and several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana said it would examine the matter and sought CM Mann's response.

Administration challenges High Court verdict

Appearing for the Chandigarh Administration, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju argued that the High Court's reasoning was flawed. "The reasoning in the order is perverse," Raju submitted before the Bench.

Taking note of the submissions, the Supreme Court observed that it would examine the matter and formally issued notice to Bhagwant Mann.

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The case was registered by the Chandigarh Police in 2020 after Bhagwant Mann and other AAP leaders organised a protest against the increase in electricity tariffs. According to the police, the protesters planned to march towards and surround the residence of the then Punjab Chief Minister. Security personnel stopped the procession using water cannons, following which stone-pelting allegedly took place, resulting in clashes with the police.

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On November 29, 2025, the Punjab and Haryana High Court set aside the criminal proceedings against Bhagwant Mann and the other accused. Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya observed that the police had no valid reason to stop the protesters as no prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) were in force at the time.

The High Court further noted that the investigation failed to identify any individual who allegedly threw stones at the police.

No evidence of instigation, High Court had said

The High Court also held that there was no material to suggest that Bhagwant Mann or the other petitioners had instigated the crowd.

It observed that the prosecution had neither specified the nature of the alleged instigation nor attributed any specific words, actions or gestures to the accused that could have provoked violence.

In view of the lack of evidence, the High Court concluded that charges related to rioting, unlawful assembly and assault on police officials were not made out against the petitioners.

Matter now before Supreme Court

Challenging the High Court's ruling, the Chandigarh Administration approached the Supreme Court seeking restoration of the criminal case.

With the issuance of notice to Bhagwant Mann, the apex court has now begun hearing the administration's appeal and will examine whether the High Court was justified in quashing the proceedings.