Kolkata, New Delhi, INDIA. New York, USA.
Business To Business, Lucknow, 30th May, 2026: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has imposed a personal cost of ₹20,000 each on the Lucknow District Magistrate and the Additional District Magistrate (Judicial) for acting beyond their jurisdiction and initiating proceedings without statutory authority.
In an order passed on May 20, Justice Pankaj Bhatia observed that the actions of the officials had unnecessarily harassed the petitioner, Nivas Colonizers Private Limited.
The court held that the officials had exceeded the powers granted to them under the law and initiated proceedings without the requisite legal authority. As a consequence, it directed that the costs be paid personally by the two officers rather than by the government.
The ruling underscores the principle that public authorities must act strictly within the bounds of powers conferred by statute and can be held personally accountable when they misuse or exceed those powers, resulting in unwarranted hardship to citizens or entities.