Overview

• The full bench led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu resumed hearings and selected core 2017 questions, including whether Haryana failed in its duty or was complicit in allowing mass gatherings before the August 25–26 violence.
• The court agreed to hear the scope of its Article 226 powers on compensation and whether recovery can include losses, harassment costs, and expenses for mobilising and deploying security forces.
• Punjab’s counsel said the state spent about ₹171 crore, including roughly ₹50 crore on CRPF deployment, and the court asked Punjab to file an affidavit on whether it has sought reimbursement elsewhere.
• The amicus, Senior Advocate Anupam Gupta, opposed referral to a tribunal, urged the court to call trial records, and flagged that over 240 FIRs yielded more than 100 reported acquittals, alleging state complicity with the Dera.
• The bench scheduled further arguments after the Diwali vacation, keeping live the four questions framed in 2017 on preventive PILs, compensation jurisdiction, recovery of security costs, and Haryana’s culpability.