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Journalism of Courage
The Executive Committee of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has called upon lawyers to abstain from work on February 23, in view of the tragic incident in which a young farmer tragically lost his life at Khanauri border on February 21. However, the Advocate General of Haryana has opposed the HCBA’s decision.
A letter by Swarn Singh Tiwana, Honorary Secretary of HCBA Punjab and Haryana High Court, stated, “Various representations and calls have been received from members of the Bar. The Executive Committee has unanimously decided that the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association consistently supports the farmers’ union. Following the regrettable incident yesterday, in which a young farmer tragically lost his life due to police excesses, the Executive Committee has resolved to abstain from work on February 23, 2024.”
Baldev Raj Mahajan, Advocate General Haryana, strongly opposed the decision, and said, “The decision of a few members of the Executive Committee to abstain from court work is strongly opposed. All law officers of Advocate General Haryana are required to appear in court tomorrow as ordered by Advocate General Haryana.”
Speaking to The Indian Express, Mahajan emphasized, “There is no concern of the issue with the legal fraternity. The Executive Committee of the HCBA, without taking the General House into confidence, cannot give such a call.
If any incident had taken place with a member of the Bar Association or the legal fraternity, the Bar Association should be concerned. This is no ground to abstain the entire Bar from work.”
Mahajan added, “The incident happened in the agitation, and no member of the Bar is involved in it in any manner. So calling for abstaining from work of the entire Bar Association is not justified. We have told the General house of the Bar that we would not be abiding by the call unless the matter is put up before the General house and considered further. This is a political decision by a group of the Bar.”
The Chandigarh Administration counsels, in line with the Haryana AG Office, have also opposed the HCBA’s call. A note by the Chandigarh Administration law office stated that the UT Administration directs all the concerned law officers of the UT administration to appear in their respective matters listed on February 23, 2024, as the decision to abstain from work was not taken by the General House.
UT Senior Standing Counsel, Anil Mehta, stated, “We are opposing the decision of HCBA, and UT law officers will be appearing before the Courts.”
When questioned about the AG Haryana opposing the decision, HCBA President Vikas Malik said, “I have already clarified that anyone appearing tomorrow in the Court will face a penalty of Rs 10,000 imposed by the HCBA. The maximum punishment can be debarring the member from the Bar.”
Advocate General Punjab, Gurminder Singh, when asked about the decision to abstain from work on Friday, said, “I cannot have any opinion on the call of abstaining from work on Friday. It is a decision of the Bar, and we have to abide by it.”
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