Haryana nudges former judge to resign from ADG’s post

“We have received Ankur Lal’s resignation. The same has been accepted” said a senior official of the Haryana AG office. Lal’s appointment did not last even a week.

Sources told The Indian Express that Lal was “advised” to put in his papers with immediate effect. A senior law officer,requesting anonymity,said “Lal’s annual confidential record (ACR) was perused after which it was decided that Lal should resign”.

Incidentally,Hawa Singh Hooda,the Haryana Advocate General,was caught unaware on Lal’s appointment and had said that he would look into the matter. Hooda had said that he was not aware about the fact that Lal was graded “C below average” in his ACR and that his integrity was found to be “doubtful” by the High Court.

It may be mentioned that a single bench of the High Court had come down heavily on the Haryana government over the said appointment. Justice A K Mittal,last Friday,had admonished Haryana for selecting such “capable” officers in its office. Referring to Lal’s appointment,Justice Mittal had remarked that it was a “sorry state of affairs” and questioned Haryana over the rationale behind appointing a former judge whose services were dispensed with by the High Court.

Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh had recorded the adverse remarks in Lal’s ACR in 2011. Lal was then posted as Civil Judge (Junior division) in Gurgaon. He was later transferred to Bhiwani. Aggrieved,Lal moved a representation requesting the High Court to expunge the remarks against him. The issue was considered by a committee of High Court judges on the administrative side. Lal’s request was turned down by the Committee on September 22,2011. It was on December 4,last that Lal’s services were dispensed with by the High Court.

Despite this,the Haryana government had appointed him as Deputy Advocate General (DAG) in his office. A DAG draws a salary of Rs 85,000 per month.