OUSTER DEMAND: Lawyer bodies slam Bajwa, back advocate general Nanda

n its resolution, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, a body of high court lawyers with nearly 4,000-odd members, said it was not concerned with political issues

The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana and the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association on Saturday came out in support of Punjab advocate general (AG) Atul Nanda, a day after Congress’ Rajya Sabha member Partap Singh Bajwa sought his ouster.

HT Image

In the open letter to chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday, Bajwa sought immediate removal of Nanda as Punjab AG alleging that he failed in protecting interests of the state in court cases in the high court and Supreme Court.

“The advocate general is a high constitutional office under Article 165 of the Constitution of India and is not to be targeted to settle petty political scores,” said the bar council in a statement, adding that Bajwa was expected to conduct himself with “dignity and diligence”.

“His open letter has not only brought disrepute to the office of the advocate general, it has hurt the sentiments of the entire legal fraternity,” the bar council said. Punjab advocate general is ex-officio member of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, a statutory body of 1 lakh lawyers in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.