CHANDIGARH, 24 June — A fire broke out in the Punjab and Haryana High Court early Monday morning, destroying important files, furniture, and office equipment in the women advocates’ bar room, with the estimated damage pegged at ₹35 lakh.
The blaze started around 5:20 am near Gate No. 5 and is suspected to have been caused by a short-circuit in an air-conditioner wire, according to fire department officials. Two fire tenders — one each from Sector 11 and Sector 17 — were dispatched to the site and took approximately 45 minutes to bring the flames under control.
The bar room was completely gutted in the fire, which also damaged two adjoining rooms. “There was no one present at the time of the incident, which prevented injuries, but the material loss is substantial,” said a senior fire official.
President of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, Sartej Singh Narula, rushed to the court premises after being informed. “We are estimating the damage to be around ₹35 lakh. Immediate steps are being taken to restore the bar room and resume its functioning at the earliest,” Narula said.
The Bar Association has appealed to its members to contribute towards restoration efforts. “We are grateful that no one was hurt, and now we’re focused on rebuilding. The spirit of the Bar remains strong,” Narula added.
An official inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the fire and to ensure accountability. Authorities also plan to implement stricter safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
