Amid setbacks in High Court, Punjab mulls replacing Advocate General Vinod Ghai

“The action will be rather delayed as the government is appearing to be on a case-losing spree in the HC,” said a source.

The source added the orders regarding the dissolution of panchayats had to be withdrawn and the government was not able to defend its home delivery of flour under the Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana in the High Court.

The High Court had then directed the government to tweak the scheme as ration depot holders had stated they would be weeded out of the system and the work of doorstep delivery of ration would be handed over to big companies.

On Friday, ration depot holders organised a protest against the government outside Anaj Bhawan in Chandigarh even as it is in the process of implementing its big-ticket scheme.

Before this, the government had backed Ghai when a woman colleague’s sister had levelled allegations on him of an “extra-marital affair” with her younger sister. However, the government did not take any action.

Leader of Opposition Partap Bajwa had also written to Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit seeking action. However, no action followed.

Sources said while the government is looking for his replacement, no name has been finalised yet. They said the name of Puneet Bali was doing the rounds but there was no final decision yet.

“The CM was in Chhattisgarh yesterday. He will be away on Sunday. He will be back on Monday evening. If any new appointment is to be made then it will be after that only,” said a source.

Ghai was named as the Punjab Advocate General in July last year.