Punjab & Haryana HC Dismisses Petition After No-Show by Petitioner

What Happened

On November 25, 2024, the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh dismissed a criminal petition filed by Om Parkash Bishnoi against the State of Punjab. The petitioner failed to appear at two scheduled hearings, leading the court to throw out his case “for want of prosecution,” meaning he did not pursue the matter.

Background

Om Parkash Bishnoi had approached the High Court through a Criminal Miscellaneous Petition (CRM-M-37717-2024). The exact relief he sought is not recorded in the short order, but such petitions often ask for bail or to quash charges. The court first called the case on August 9, 2024, but there was no lawyer or petitioner present. When the matter returned on November 25, 2024, again no one showed up to argue the case.

What the Court Said

Presiding Justice Sanjiv Berry noted that the petitioner’s absence on both dates indicated a clear lack of interest in moving the case forward. He stated in a concise oral order:
“It seems that the petitioner is no more interested in pursuing the present petition, therefore, the instant petition is dismissed for want of prosecution.”
The term “want of prosecution” simply means the petitioner failed to press or advance the case.

Key Takeaways

• Attend Your Hearings – Failing to show up can result in outright dismissal. Courts expect parties to take active steps to pursue their own claims.
• Case Backlog Relief – Dismissing unpursued matters helps the judiciary focus on live disputes and speeds up overall case handling.
• No Automatic Reinstatement – Once dismissed for want of prosecution, a party usually must file a fresh petition or seek revival, which can involve extra costs and delays.
• Reminder on Court Etiquette – This order underlines the importance of legal representation and timely follow-up in every court proceeding.