NO OPINION EXPRESSED ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE; AUGUST 27 INTERIM ORDER REMAINS IN FORCE, COURT HAS NEITHER DECLARED THE PIL ILLEGAL NOR DELIVERED A FINAL VERDICT ON THE UNDERLYING DISPUTE: ADVOCATE STEPHAN MASIH, PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT
Face2News/Chandigarh
\The Supreme Court, in an important order dated November 6, 2026, has requested the Punjab and Haryana High Court to first decide the legal standing (locus standi) of the petitioner who filed the original Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Ankur Yoseph Narula case.
Speaking on the matter, Advocate Stephan Masih of the Punjab and Haryana High Court stated that while disposing of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 31685/2026, Ankur Yoseph Narula & Anr. v. Tejasvi Minhas & Ors., the Supreme Court made it clear that it was not inclined to interfere with the interim order passed by the High Court on August 27, 2026.
The Supreme Court also directed the High Court to hear the concerned parties, first decide the objection regarding the PIL petitioner’s locus standi, and thereafter examine the merits of the case.
Advocate Masih specifically clarified that the Supreme Court, in its order, stated that it had not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case. The Court has neither declared the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) illegal nor delivered any final decision on the underlying dispute.
He further stated that the interim order dated August 27 has neither been set aside nor stayed, and the original PIL, CWP-PIL No. 43/2026, continues to remain pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Stephan Masih appealed to the media to report the Supreme Court’s order in its proper legal context and refrain from drawing any preconceived conclusions against any party in the matter, which is still pending before the High Court. He added that all legal and factual submissions would be presented before the competent court at the appropriate stage, while fully respecting the dignity and sanctity of the judicial process.
