Court pulls up police, jail officials for ‘Willful Disobedience’ in Pathanmajra production case
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ April 21,2026
Jaspreet Singh Minhas, Judicial Magistrate First Class, Patiala, in its order dated April 16,2026 has issued show-cause notices to the Jail Superintendent of Central Jail, Bathinda, and the SP (HQ) of Bathinda and Patiala, directing them to explain why proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 should not be initiated against them for intentional and willful disobedience of court orders dated 08.04.2026, 09.04.2026, 10.04.2026, and 13.04.2026.
The orders were passed after the officials failed to produce the accused, AAP MLA from Sanour, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, who is lodged in Bathinda Jail, before the court. The court observed that “the accused (Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra) is intentionally not being produced before the court by the SP (HQ), Patiala, despite it being his duty.”
As per available information, the court had issued a production warrant for Pathanmajra. However, it was returned unexecuted along with a report by Inspector Balwinder Singh, SHO, Police Station Julkan, stating that the accused could not be produced due to law-and-order duty on 16.04.2026. The report, however, did not specify any details of such duty. A letter from the Additional Superintendent, Central Jail, Patiala, was also received, requesting the SSP Patiala, SP (HQ) Patiala, and SP (HQ) Bathinda to make arrangements for producing the accused in court.
The court was hearing Pathanmajra’s plea, in which he had moved an application to surrender before the court on 08.04.2026 in another case where as he is in judicial custody for a rape case.
Police has lodged an FIR number 87/ 2025 under Section 303(2), 61(2) of BNS read with Section 21(1) and 4(2) of Mines and Minerals (Regulation of Development) Act, 1957. P. S. Julkan, Patiala and as per sources he wants to surrender in the mining case.
The court had issued a production warrant for 09.04.2026, and therefore, his custody in this case should be deemed to commence from that date. It was further argued that the accused was deliberately shifted by police officials and jail authorities from Patiala Jail to Bathinda Jail on the night of 08.04.2026 to intentionally disobey the order of the Illaqa Magistrate.
The court observed that repeated violations of its orders on four occasions show that the police officials and jail authorities have no regard for court orders and are intent on willfully disobeying them for reasons best known to them. It was further noted that once the production warrant had been issued in the presence of the Investigating Officer, there was no justification for transferring the accused to a jail in another district.
The court also remarked that the Jail Superintendent, Central Jail, Bathinda, had failed to produce the accused even through video conferencing (VC) despite repeated directions.
As per official records, Pathanmajra’s production warrants were issued for 09.04.2026, 10.04.2026, 13.04.2026, and 16.04.2026, but the accused was not produced even once.
The court stated that “non-production of the accused on one ground or another is not justifiable by any stretch of imagination and amounts to a violation of his fundamental rights.” It further observed that the SHO of Police Station Julkan and other officials appear to consider it their right to disobey court orders by citing law-and-order duties.
In view of these circumstances, the court directed the concerned officials to submit their replies by 20.04.2026 at 11:00 AM through separate affidavits, failing which it would be presumed that they have nothing to say in the matter, and a contempt reference would be forwarded to the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The court also directed the Jail Superintendent, Central Jail, Bathinda, to explain what is preventing him from producing the accused through video conferencing.
When contacted, SP (HQ) Bathinda Jagdish Bishnoi stated, “We have already filed our reply in court. Moreover, the Patiala Police is handling the case, and the Bathinda Jail authorities are the ones who failed to comply with the court’s orders.”
Bathinda Jail Superintendent Hemant Sharma could not be contacted despite repeated calls and messages, while SP (HQ) Patiala Vaibhav Chaudhary was unavailable on phone calls.
