Karan Singh Vs State of Haryana and Others — Writ and Judicial Review | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

Karan Singh Vs State of Haryana and Others — Writ and Judicial Review | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No substantive relief; the petition was disposed of as infructuous after the Government (order dated 28.05.2025) expunged the adverse remarks and upgraded the ACR category to "Good". The Court additionally directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, to file an affidavit within four weeks clarifying the provision under which mercy petitions against adverse remarks are maintainable and adjudicable by the Home Department.

Issue for consideration

Challenge to the adverse remarks recorded in the petitioner's ACR for the period 22.04.2017 to 01.08.2017 and to the rejection of his representations against them. +2 more

Ratio / Principle

The writ petition stands disposed of as having been rendered infructuous, in the wake of the Government's order dated 28.05.2025 expunging the adverse remarks and upgrading the ACR category from "Below Average" to "Good", with neither side able to controvert that position.

Key takeaways

Before parting, the Court directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Government of Haryana, to file an affidavit in the Registry within four weeks clarifying under which provision a mercy petition against adverse remarks recorded by the competent authority is maintainable and can be adjudicated by the Home Department.ratio¶19

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Punjab and Haryana High Court (Jagmohan Bansal, J.), CWP No.3018 of 2024(O&M), decided 29.01.2026 — Service law / ACR adverse remarks. The petitioner, invoking Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, sought quashing of adverse remarks recorded in his ACR for 22.04.2017 to 01.08.2017, and assailed the rejection of his representations by the Superintendent of Police, Mahendergarh (order dated 20.03.2023) and the Additional Director General of Police, South Range, Rewari (order dated 05.04.2019). During the pendency of the petition, the Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Haryana, Home Department, vide order dated 28.05.2025, expunged the adverse remarks and upgraded the ACR category from "Below Average" to "Good". Counsel for the parties concurred that the petition had become infructuous, and the Court disposed of it accordingly. Before parting, the Court directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, to file an affidavit within four weeks in the Registry clarifying under which provision a mercy petition against adverse remarks recorded by the competent authority is maintainable and can be adjudicated by the Home Department. Marked speaking/reasoned: Yes; reportable: No.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CWP No.3018 of 2024(O&M) Date of Decision:29.01.2026

Karan Singh

….Petitioner

vs.

State of Haryana and others

….Respondents

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE JAGMOHAN BANSAL

Present: Mr. Rohit Mittal, Advocate for the petitioner Mr. Parveen Mehta, Addl. A.G., Haryana

JAGMOHAN BANSAL, J. (ORAL)

The petitioner through instant petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India is seeking setting aside of adverse remarks recorded in his Annual Confidential Report ( for short “ACR”) for the period from 22.04.2017 to 01.08.2017.

The petitioner preferred instant petition before this Court assailing adverse remarks recorded in his ACR. He further assailed order dated 20.03.2023 whereby his representation was rejected by Superintendent of Police, Mahendergarh. He filed representation before Additional Director General of Police assailing adverse remarks recorded in his ACR. Additional Director General of Police, South Range, Rewari vide order dated 05.04.2019 rejected his representation. During the pendency of instant petition, Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Haryana, Home Department vide order dated 28.05.2025 has expunged adverse remarks PARAMJIT KAUR SAINI 2026.01.29 05:08 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CWP No. 3018 of 2024(O&M) -2-

recorded in the petitioner’s ACR. Category of his ACR has been upgraded to “Good” from “Below Average”.

Learned counsel for the petitoner submits that in the wake of order dated 28.05.2025 passed by Government, the petition has rendered infructuous.

Learned Stated counsel expressed his inability to controvert the aforesaid submission.

In the wake statement of both sides, the petition stands disposed of as having been rendered infrutuous.

Before parting with the order, this Court finds it appropriate to direct Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Government of Haryana to file an affidavit within four weeks from today in the Registry of the Court clarifying under which provision mercy petition against adverse remarks recorded by competent authority is maintainable and can be adjudicated by Home Department.

(JAGMOHAN BANSAL) JUDGE

29.01.2026

paramjit

Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes
Whether reportable:	No

PARAMJIT KAUR SAINI 2026.01.29 05:08 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document