Taking up a public interest litigation over the continued vacancy in the office of Lokpal in Punjab, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday issued a notice to the State. The Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry also gave the State two weeks to seek instructions in the matter.At the outset, the Bench was informed that the process for appointment of a fresh incumbent had not yet commenced even though the Lokpal retired in October 2025. Taking note of the submission, the Bench directed the State counsel to seek instructions in the matter.The matter was placed before the Bench after advocate Vishal Mehta filed the public interest litigation seeking urgent directions to the State of Punjab to appoint a Lokpal after alleging that the statutory anti-corruption mechanism had been rendered “completely non-functional” since the post fell vacant on October 8, 2025.The petitioner asserted that the prolonged inaction by the state authorities defeated the very object of the Punjab Lokpal Act, 1996, and violated citizens’ fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21. Describing the Lokpal as a crucial statutory safeguard providing an independent forum for redress of complaints against corruption and maladministration at the highest levels, the petitioner contended that no steps had been initiated for appointment despite the office remaining vacant for over six months, creating a “complete vacuum” in the State’s anti-corruption framework.The plea further pointed out that the State government had earlier abolished the State Vigilance Commission on the assurance that the Lokpal institution would be strengthened and made the primary instrument to combat corruption.Referring to the Aam Aadmi Party’s election manifesto, the petitioner stated that it envisaged a strong and empowered “Jan Lokpal” framework, with commitments to strengthen anti-corruption institutions and grant greater autonomy to the Lokpal/Lokayukta. It also cited statements attributed to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assuring expeditious appointment, but added that no appointment had been made so far.The petitioner submitted that Punjab had witnessed multiple allegations of corruption, misuse of official position and irregularities in public administration in recent times, including in public contracts, recruitment, illegal mining and financial irregularities in public schemes. In the absence of a functional Lokpal, citizens were left without any independent and efficacious forum to raise grievances against high-ranking public functionaries, the plea added.The petitioner contended that the continued failure to operationalise the Lokpal, despite statutory mandate and declared assurances, violated the doctrine of legitimate expectation, the rule of law and principles of constitutional governance.Seeking the court’s intervention, the petitioner urged that directions be issued to the State to initiate and complete the process of appointing the Lokpal in a time-bound manner in the larger public interest.