More Trouble For Punjab Govt? SC Reopens 2020 Chandigarh Protest Case Against CM Mann
More Trouble For Punjab Govt? SC Reopens 2020 Chandigarh Protest Case Against CM Mann Published By, Last Updated: July 30, 2026, 13:58 IST On November
More Trouble For Punjab Govt? SC Reopens 2020 Chandigarh Protest Case Against CM Mann Published By, Last Updated: July 30, 2026, 13:58 IST On November 29, 2025, Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya of the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the case against the chief minister and other accused. Rapid Read Supreme Court Issues Notice To Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. (File/PTI) The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a notice to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in connection with a 2020 protest case linked to a demonstration against electricity tariff hikes in Chandigarh. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India-designate Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohan said it would examine the matter and issued notice to Mann. The notice was issued on a petition filed by the Chandigarh Administration challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that had quashed criminal proceedings against Mann and other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders. The case stems from an FIR registered by Chandigarh Police in 2020 after Mann and other AAP leaders allegedly led a protest march against an increase in electricity rates. According to the prosecution, AAP leaders and workers had planned to gherao the residence of the then Punjab chief minister.
The protesters were stopped by police using water cannons, following which incidents of alleged stone-pelting at police personnel were reported. Based on the allegations, cases related to rioting and unlawful assembly were registered against Mann and others. On November 29, 2025, Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya of the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the case against the chief minister and other accused. Challenging that order, the Chandigarh Administration moved the Supreme Court, which has now agreed to examine the matter and has sought responses from the respondents. Appearing for the Chandigarh Administration, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju told the Supreme Court that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had wrongly quashed the criminal case despite allegations that, according to him, disclosed cognisable offences. Raju argued that the High Court’s finding that there could be no unlawful assembly in the absence of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was legally untenable. “The Judge says it can’t be unlawful assembly as there was no order under Section 144. Unheard of. Even if he was not involved in any overt act, any act by a member of the assembly is attributable to him," Raju submitted before the Bench.
During earlier proceedings, however, the Supreme Court had indicated its reluctance to revive the case against Mann, observing that raising slogans, or “nareebazi", was common among politicians. In a separate hearing, the court had also orally remarked that there was no allegation that AAP leader Aman Arora had incited violence. Punjab Paper Leak Controversy The Supreme Court’s decision to issue a notice to CM Mann in the 2020 Chandigarh protest case comes as a fresh challenge for the Punjab government, which is already facing intense political heat over allegations of exam paper leaks and recruitment irregularities. The controversy escalated in July 2026 after opposition parties, including the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), accused the AAP-led Punjab government of failing to prevent alleged exam paper leaks and recruitment test irregularities. The latest flashpoint has been the Pharmacy Officer recruitment examination, in which Punjab Police reportedly busted an alleged interstate cheating racket. According to opposition leaders, multiple examinations have been affected by alleged leaks or irregularities since the AAP came to power in Punjab in 2022. AAP Government’s Response The Bhagwant Mann government has strongly denied all allegations. AAP has maintained that not a single recruitment examination paper has leaked during its tenure.
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