AAP government vs judiciary: How Punjab’s policies, finances faced court scrutiny

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab faced court scrutiny over its policies and financial decisions as the state prepares for upcoming elections. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's absence from the swearing-in of the new Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court highlighted the conflict with the BJP-led Centre. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria administered the oath to Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, despite the Punjab Cabinet's demand for a hold on the appointment.

The AAP government has been embroiled in multiple judicial challenges, including the Land Pooling Policy, 2025, which aimed to consolidate agricultural land but was stayed by the High Court for lacking mandatory Social and Environmental Impact Assessments. Similarly, the Punjab Unified Building Rules, 2025, and the Low Impact Green Habitats policy for farmhouses faced judicial intervention over concerns over densification, infrastructure planning, and the constitutionality of diverting welfare funds.

The government's handling of welfare funds and recruitment processes have also been under judicial scrutiny. The High Court stayed the proposal to divert funds from the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board corpus and the appointment of pharmacy officers due to allegations of an inter-state cheating racket in recruitment exams.

The courts have been closely monitoring Punjab's law and order situation, ordering probes into alleged police connivance and seeking wider reforms in prisons and police departments.

Recent environmental concerns, such as the HC's blanket ban on tree felling without prior permission, have also been addressed by the courts. Punjab's dispute with the Centre over the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has been another point of contention, with the High Court restraining Punjab Police from interfering with water releases and directing compliance with Centre-brokered decisions.

The AAP government seems to be using these judicial challenges as part of a larger narrative in the run-up to the elections, portraying Punjab as standing up to the Centre.