Harkesh Singh Vs State of U.P. and 2 Others — Allahabad HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Harkesh Singh Vs State of U.P. and 2 Others — Allahabad HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of: petitioner permitted to deposit the panel rent dues in six equal monthly installments commencing July 2026; no interest to be charged on the due amount if installments are paid; recovery order dated 01.12.2025 kept in abeyance during the deposit period, with liberty to the respondents to start recovery proceedings on default. No order as to costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner should be permitted to deposit the dues under the recovery order (panel/penal rent) in easy installments, and whether interest can be charged on the due amount.

Court's answer

Without entering into the merits of the case, the petition is disposed of directing the petitioner to deposit the amount of panel rent in six equal installments month by month starting from July 2026.

Ratio / Principle

The respondents are directed not to charge any interest on the due amount, provided the petitioner starts payment of the installments.

Key takeaways

The recovery order is kept in abeyance till the prescribed period for deposit and thereafter during the period of deposit of installments; on default, the respondents are free to commence recovery proceedings against the petitioner.ratio¶20

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Recovery/panel rent - Official accommodation - Writ petition under challenge against recovery order dated 01.12.2025 passed by respondent No.2/Superintendent, District Jail Bijnor directing petitioner to deposit Rs.81,184/- as panel rent till November 2025, with a further sum of Rs.59,928/- stated to be due as penal rent for December 2025 to February 2026 - Petitioner stated accommodation was vacated on 23.03.2026 and sought permission to pay in installments - Held: without entering into merits, petition disposed of directing deposit of the panel rent amount in six equal monthly installments starting from July 2026; respondents directed not to charge interest on the due amount if installments are paid; recovery order kept in abeyance during the deposit period, with liberty to respondents to commence recovery proceedings on default. No order as to costs. (Prakash Padia, J.)

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD

WRIT - A No. - 6771 of 2026

Harkesh Singh

.....Petitioner(s)

Versus

State Of U.P. And 2 Others

.....Respondent(s)

Counsel for Petitioner(s)	: Dhananjay Kumar Mishra
Counsel for Respondent(s)	: C.S.C.

Court No. - 6

HON'BLE PRAKASH PADIA, J.

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel

The order of recovery dated 01.12.2025 passed by the respondent No.2/Superintendent, District Jail Bijnor (Annexure No.3) is under challenge. By the aforesaid order, the petitioner was directed to deposit a sum of Rs.81,184/- as panel rent. till November 2025.

It is argued by learned counsel for the petitioner that for the period December, 2025 to February, 2026, a sum of Rs.59,928/- has also due for payment as penal rent. It is argued that the petitioner has directed to pay interest on panel rent till the time he has vacated the accommodation. It is argued that official accommodation has already been vacated by the petitioner on 23.03.2026 and due to his financial situation, he could not deposit the entire amount at once prays that the petitioner be permitted to deposit in easy installments.

Learned Standing Counsel has no objection.

Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.

In the facts and circumstances of the case and without entering into

WRIA No. 6771 of 2026

2

merits of the case, the present petition is disposed of directing the petitioner to deposit the amount of panel rent in six equal installments month by month started from the month of July, 2026. The respondents are directed not to charge any interest on the due amount, if the petitioner is started payment of installments.

Till the period prescribed for depositing the aforesaid amount and thereafter during the period of deposit of installments, the recovery order will be kept in abeyance. In case the petitioner defaults in depositing the installments within the stipulated period, it will be open for the respondents to start recovery proceedings against the petitioner.

With the aforesaid observations/directions, the writ petition stands disposed of. No order as to costs.

(Prakash Padia,J.)

May 6, 2026 saqlain

Digitally signed by :- SYED MOHAMMAD SAQLAIN HAIDER High Court of Judicature at Allahabad