Supreme Court issues notice to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on plea against quashing of protest case

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the response of the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on an appeal filed by Chandigarh Administration challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court decision to quash a case of rioting and unlawful assembly against Mann and other leaders of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana said it will examine the matter and issued notice to Mann.

"The reasoning in the order is perverse," said Additional Solicitor General SV Raju on behalf of Chandigarh administration.

"We will examine it. Issue notice," the Court directed.

The case was registered by Chandigarh Police in 2020 after Mann and others had taken out a protest march against hike in electricity tariff.

The AAP leaders and workers had planned to surround the then Punjab CM’s residence but were stopped with a water cannon, which allegedly led to stone pelting on the cops.

On November 29, 2025, Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya of the High Court quashed the case.

The High Court opined that there was no reason for the police to stop the protestors as no prohibitory order had been issued under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

“Nobody has been named from amongst the persons present who allegedly pelted stones on the police force. Besides, it is not the case that the petitioners asked them to do so. The nature of alleged instigation by the petitioners has also not been mentioned; nor have specific words or gestures of any kind been attributed to them,” the High Court said.

Therefore, it said, there was no basis to ascribe the alleged act of throwing stones by the mob to petitioners. The High Court also held that the charges of rioting or assaulting police officials were not made out.

This led to the appeal before the apex court.

[Read Live Coverage]