Disposed¶19

Shubham Kataria v. State of Punjab and Ors.

Punjab & Haryana HC24 Apr 2026CWP/12530/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Punjab & Haryana High Court; CWP-12530-2026; writ petition under Articles 226/227; mandamus; salary arrears; pay scale 10300-34800+3200 Grade Pay; confirmation 26.11.2023; appointment letter 08.11.2020; interest 18% per annum; legal notice 15.12.2025 Annexure P-3; direction to respondent No.2; speaking order; opportunity of hearing; 03 months time limit; State of Punjab; disposed of without going into merits; Namit Kumar J.; Ashok Kumar Khunger; Kanav Singla AAG.

What did the court decide?

Direction to respondent No.2 to consider and decide legal notice dated 15.12.2025 (Annexure P-3) expeditiously by passing a speaking order after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, preferably within 03 months from the date of receipt of certified copy of the order, and to convey the decision taken thereon to the petitioner. ¶19

Shubham Kataria Vs State of Punjab and Ors. — Writ and Judicial Review | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

¶19

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner is entitled to salary as per pay scale (10300-34800+3200 Grade Pay) from the date of his confirmation i.e. 26.11.2023, together with interest @ 18% per annum on delayed payment of arrears of salary. +1 more

¶11

Court's answer

The Court expressly refrained from going into the merits of the petitioner's pay-scale/arrears claim at this stage; the substantive entitlement question was left undecided.

¶19

Ratio / Principle

The petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.2 to consider and decide the petitioner's legal notice dated 15.12.2025 (Annexure P-3) expeditiously by passing a speaking order after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner.

¶19

Key takeaways

The decision on the legal notice is to be taken, after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, preferably within a period of 03 months from the date of receipt of certified copy of the order.ratio¶19

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

CWP-12530-2026, High Court of Punjab and Haryana (Namit Kumar J., oral), decided 24.04.2026: Petitioner Shubham Kataria, appointed by respondent No.3 vide letter dated 08.11.2020 and confirmed on 26.11.2023, sought a writ of mandamus under Articles 226/227 for salary as per pay scale (10300-34800+3200 Grade Pay) from the date of confirmation with interest @ 18% per annum on delayed arrears, having served an undetermined legal notice dated 15.12.2025. Without entering the merits, the Court disposed of the petition, directing respondent No.2 to decide the legal notice by a speaking order after hearing the petitioner, preferably within 03 months of receipt of certified copy of the order, and to communicate the decision to him.

¶1

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

¶2

116

¶3

CWP-12530-2026 Date of decision : 24.04.2026

Shubham Kataria

....Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab and others ...Respondents

¶8

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAMIT KUMAR

¶9

Present: Mr. Ashok Kumar Khunger, Advocate for the petitioner.

¶10

NAMIT KUMAR J. (Oral)

¶11

The present petition has been filed by the petitioner under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus, directing the respondents to pay the salary to the petitioner as per pay scale (10300-34800+3200 Grade Pay) from the date of his confirmation i.e. 26.11.2023 as he is entitled for the same in view of the appointment letter dated 08.11.2020 (Annexure P-1) issued by respondent No.3 and to pay the petitioner interest @ 18% Per annum on the delayed payment of arrears of his salary from the date of accrual till its realization.

¶12

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that for redressal of his grievances, the petitioner has also served legal notice dated 15.12.2025 (Annexure P-3) to the respondents which is still pending consideration. He further submits that at this stage, the petitioner would be satisfied, if appropriate directions are issued to the respondents to consider and decide the said legal notice, by passing a speaking order, in a time bound manner.

¶13

Notice of motion.

¶14

VINOD KOTHIYAL 2026.04.24 15:27 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

¶15

-2-

¶16

CWP-12530-2026

¶17

Mr. Kanav Singla, A.A.G., Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents-State. He has no objection to the innocuous prayer made by learned counsel for the petitioner.

¶18

I have heard learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the record of the case.

¶19

Without going into the merits of the case at this stage, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.2 to consider and decide legal notice dated 15.12.2025 (Annexure P-3) submitted by the petitioner expeditiously, by passing a speaking order after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, preferably within a period of 03 months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. Further, the decision taken thereon shall be conveyed to

¶20

the petitioner.

¶21

		(NAMIT KUMAR)
24.04.2026		JUDGE
*kothiyal*
	Whether speaking/reasoned:	Yes/No
	Whether reportable:	Yes/No

¶22

VINOD KOTHIYAL 2026.04.24 15:27 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

Shubham Kataria v. State of Punjab and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Shubham Kataria v. State of Punjab and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

Nirmal Kaur and Another Vs State of Punjab and Ors.

Sukhdeep Singh Brar and Others Vs State of Punjab and Others

Veerpal Kaur Mrahr and Others Vs State of Punjab and Others

Maninder Singh Vs State of Punjab and Others

Gurinder Singh Grover Vs State of Punjab and Others

Smt Kanta Devi Vs State of Punjab and Others