The Chhattisgarh High Court has quashed fines imposed by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate over an allegedly overcrowded wedding during COVID restrictions, finding no authority for unilateral monetary penalties without the prescribed adjudication.
Judge / Bench — Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad.
The 13 October 2026 order in Saroj Sahu’s petition and two connected cases held that the Disaster Management Act required a complaint and lawful adjudication. Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act did not independently empower executive authorities to levy fines. The underlying FIR had already been quashed.
The court set aside all three penalty orders and directed Ambikapur Municipal Corporation to refund the marriage-garden proprietor’s deposited ₹4.75 lakh within three months of receiving a certified copy. It made no costs order.
Advocates appearing — Petitioners — Prafull N. Bharat, senior advocate, with Vishal Sahu. State — Akhilesh Kumar, government advocate. Municipal Corporation — Anand Pandey, on behalf of Bhupendra Singh.