India, April 2 -- Rapping the Centre for getting into unnecessary litigation, the Supreme Court on Wednesday imposed costs of Rs 25,000 on it for challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order setting aside a CISF official's dismissal. Upholding the High Court ruling, a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan also granted the official back wages after finding the punishment disproportionate.

"We fail to understand why the Union of India has challenged the order of the high court division bench. We hear pendency, pendency. Who is the biggest litigant? Cost should be imposed," Justice Nagarathna said.

"Why can't there be an opinion that if the high court found it disproportionate and granted relief, setting aside all the order...