At least five frontline Additional Advocate Generals (AAG) of Punjab have put in their papers in the recent past, indicating the apparent tension brewing within the Advocate General's (AG) office after senior advocate Baldev Singh became the AG.
The trend of resignations started with AAG Madhu Dayal resigning last month. She was one of the experienced law officers who had defended the government in various important cases in the court.
This was followed by Salil Sagar, GS Attariwala, and Puneet Gupta also resigning, citing personal reasons. On Tuesday, senior advocate Chetan Mittal also resigned from the post of AAG.
It is learnt more resignations are likely to follow shortly.
All these AAGs, who have resigned from the Punjab AG office, were tried and time-tested advocates handpicked by former AG Hardev Singh Mattewal, a close confidant and legal trouble-shooter of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Mattewal had resigned early this year as he was not keeping well, following which Baldev Singh was made the top law officer of Punjab in June.
Confirming the resignations of the AAGs, AG Baldev Singh said: "We have enough people to take care of cases." Asked about the reason behind the officers leaving the office, AG said: “Only personal reasons were given.”
{{/usCountry}}Confirming the resignations of the AAGs, AG Baldev Singh said: "We have enough people to take care of cases." Asked about the reason behind the officers leaving the office, AG said: “Only personal reasons were given.”
{{/usCountry}}To a query whether he asked any of these AAGs to re-consider their decision, the advocate general said, “I have forwarded their resignations to the appointing authorities. We don’t have any groups in our office.”