Legal setbacks: Punjab govt thinking about demonstrating AG Vinod Ghai the door
The Punjab government is contemplating taking away the state’s advocate general, Vinod Ghai, in the backdrop of authorized setbacks it has these days experienced in the Punjab and Haryana superior court, according to persons privy to the deliberations in the large official echelons.
“A grim look at has been taken of a sloppy performance of the state’s best legal officer in defending the government’s crucial choices in the high courtroom,” one of the individuals quoted higher than informed Hindustan Periods on Saturday, requesting anonymity.
He especially cited the new lawful fiascos on two large profile instances — dissolution on panchayats and residence delivery of atta.
“AG’s place of work failed to give legal guidance on the proposal to dissolve the panchayats right before it was set up just before the minister and chief minister,” he claimed, including: “Instead, Ghai roped in former AG Ashok Aggarwal when the matter reached the superior court following a community curiosity litigation (PIL) without the need of trying to keep the main minister’s business in the loop,” the official said.
Getting that it’s notification of panchayat dissolution experienced no lawful leg to stand on, the federal government experienced to withdraw it, a U-flip that ashamed the Mann government and handed a adhere to the opposition to defeat it with. As a problems management, the governing administration suspended two senior IAS officers for drafting a “technically flawed” proposal ahead of the rural progress and panchayat minister and main minister signed it, triggering an opposition outcry and a PIL.
The legal limbo on the AAP government’s plan for dwelling shipping and delivery of atta to specific economically-weaker sections was also outcome of a “shoddy homework” by the AG office environment, stated the individual quoted earlier mentioned.
The Mann government, he stated, has veered around to the view to dispense with the companies of Ghai and overhaul the AG business with a new encounter.
Ghai, a leading criminal lawyer, took over in July 2022, as the next AG immediately after senior advocate Anmol Rattan Sidhu, the to start with AG in the Mann governing administration, resigned on July 19 pursuing variations over range of law officers, amid other difficulties. He had cited “personal reasons” in his resignation letter.
Ghai did not immediately react to HT’s calls and textual content messages for his remark. However, resources in AG office environment claimed that in panchayat dissolution case, legal opinion was not taken right before the issue was taken up by the point out cabinet. The AG office also contested the authorities statements that Aggarwal was roped in by Ghai.
“It was officers from the concerned department who achieved Aggarwal and questioned him to symbolize the govt on panchayat dissolution in the large court docket. The AG was knowledgeable subsequently,” an officer in the AG business claimed.
Aggarwal appeared in only one hearing when the federal government sought time to contemplate the subject. On the up coming day of hearing, it was state’s advocate standard who undertook before the court docket that the govt would withdraw its notification.
The atta scheme was cleared by the point out cupboard in May possibly 2022, months in advance of Ghai took about. However, depot holders approached the large court versus the choice arguing that important commodities can only be distributed via truthful cost shops as for every the central and point out governments’ instructions from time to time. The point out governing administration was compelled to place scheme on keep, which was to be released in Oct last. The petitions had been withdrawn soon after the government undertook right before the court that scheme would be reframed.