Punjab judge unfazed as Bar body announces boycott

A day after the unusual order by Justice Uma Nath Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing the CBI to send Advocate Tahar Singh to a mental asylum

A day after the unusual order by Justice Uma Nath Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing the CBI to send Advocate Tahar Singh to a mental asylum created a furore in the legal fraternity, the High Court Bar Association announced an indefinite boycott of the judge and demanded his impeachment.

Justice Singh, however, took up hearings in various cases listed before him despite a group of advocates blocking access to his court. At one stage, the judge almost directed the CBI director to utilise the services of paramilitary forces and arrest all those who were not allowing BIS Chahal, former media advisor to the Punjab Chief Minister, to enter the courtroom. This led to the agitating lawyers making way for Chahal, but his lawyers were not allowed to enter.

Meanwhile, a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday directed Tahar’s counsel to file an amended petition. Since the petition was prepared in a hurry on Monday due to the urgency of the situation, the defence counsel submitted that an amended petition would be filed. The division bench also directed Tahar to file an affidavit giving an undertaking he will not visit his wife’s residence. She had filed an FIR on July 6, charging him with matrimonial cruelty.

The court further questioned the counsel representing the UT Administration about the status of the case. The counsel submitted that a case was registered against Tahar Singh on the complaint of his wife, but a day later they submitted that they had entered into a settlement. After hearing the arguments, the division bench adjourned the case to July 30.