IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 247 CWP-19295-2026 (O&M) Date of Decision : August 13, 2026 ARUN KUMAR -PETITIONER V/S STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS -RESPONDENTS CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI Present: Mr. Satyam Khichi, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Charanpreet Singh, A.A.G., Punjab. Mr. Ajaivir Singh, Advocate for the respondents No.2 to 5. *** KULDEEP TIWARI, J. (ORAL) 1. Through the instant writ petition, the petitioner seeks issuance of a direction to respondents No.2 and 3 to regularize his services, as he has been serving as an Assistant Professor on contractual basis for more than a decade and the contracts of 134 similarly situated Assistant Professors have been extended. 2. Learned counsel appearing for the respondents No.2 to 5- University has filed a short affidavit of Dr. Prof. D.P.S. Sidhu, Registrar, Punjabi University, which is taken on record. A copy thereof has also been supplied to learned counsel for the petitioner. 3. Learned counsel for the respondent-University, while drawing the attention of this Court to Annexure A-1 appended to the short affidavit (supra), submits that ex post facto approval has been accorded for extension of the petitioner’s engagement as Assistant Professor (on contractual basis), DEVINDER YADAV 2026.08.14 15:04 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment CWP-19295-2026 (O&M) 2 Law Department, Punjabi University Regional Centre, Bathinda, for the period from 16.11.2025 to 15.05.2026 and from 16.05.2026 to 15.11.2026. It is further submitted that the arrears of salary due to the petitioner have also since been released. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner does not dispute the aforesaid factual position. However, he submits that, since the salary was released belatedly and only upon intervention by this Court, the petitioner is entitled to interest on the delayed payment. He further submits that the petitioner also intends to raise the issue relating to regularization of his services before the respondent-University in the first instance. 5. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record, this Court deems it appropriate, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner’s claim for regularization or interest on delayed payment of salary, to relegate the petitioner to the respondent-University for raising the aforesaid grievances before it in the first instance. Accordingly, in the event the petitioner approaches the respondent-University by way of a fresh representation, setting out his aforesaid grievances, within a period of 30 days from today, the respondent-University shall endeavour to decide the same, in accordance with law, within a period of six weeks thereafter. 6. The writ petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms. 7. Pending application also stands disposed of accordingly. (KULDEEP TIWARI) August 13, 2026 JUDGE devinder Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether Reportable : Yes/No DEVINDER YADAV 2026.08.14 15:04 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment