In a major legal shake-up, Punjab Advocate-General (AG) Gurminder Singh on Sunday resigned from his post on Sunday, becoming the third AG to step down in the past two years of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government. Wasting no time, the state appointed his successor — 44-year-old Maninderjit Singh Bedi — who is the youngest AG in Punjab’s recallable history.
Bedi’s appointment, reportedly backed by Delhi’s former Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, marked the fourth change in the AG’s office since the party came to power in March 2022. His elevation comes at a crucial juncture when Punjab is grappling with major legal and political challenges, including the ongoing farmers’ protest and a case related to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the contentious Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, and a rising legal backlog in drug-related cases, to mention a few.
Swift Transition in Legal Leadership
The development unfolded swiftly as Gurminder Singh had expressed his desire to step down just a day earlier, citing his intent to return to private practice. His resignation, dated March 30, 2025, was accepted by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who, hours later, issued a notification appointing Bedi as the new AG.
“In exercise of the powers conferred under Article 165 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Punjab hereby appoints Maninderjit Singh Bedi, son of Inderjit Singh Bedi, as the Advocate-General for the state,” read the official notification, issued on Sunday evening.
Bedi, a native of Rampura Phul in Bathinda, took over the charge of his new role in the AG office at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Bedi had previously served as Additional Advocate-General (AAG) and played a crucial role in the state’s legal affairs.
Frequent AG Changes Raise Concerns Over Stability
The frequent reshuffling of Punjab’s top law officer has raised concerns about stability in the state’s legal machinery. Since March 2022, four Advocate-Generals have been appointed and subsequently replaced. Anmol Rattan Sidhu, the first AG under AAP regine, resigned in July 2022, citing differences with the administration. His successor, Vinod Ghai, stepped down in October 2023 – also citing personal reasons – paving the way for Gurminder Singh — who has now resigned after 18 months in office.
The recurring exits of Punjab’s AGs have fueled speculation about internal tensions within the government, particularly regarding legal strategy and coordination with the political leadership.
Govt Extends Term of 215 Law Officers
Amid the AG’s resignation, the Governor has also approved the extension of tenure for 215 law officers until April 30. These include 24 Additional Advocate-Generals, 21 Senior Deputy Advocate-Generals, and several Deputy Advocate-Generals. In addition, the Government has appointed senior advocate Anu Chatrath as Senior Additional Advocate-General.
This move, seen as an attempt to maintain continuity in the state's legal team amid frequent changes at the top, came over a month after the Government had asked all 220 law officers — representing the state in the Supreme Court, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and various tribunals — to resign. At that time, the then AG Gurminder Singh had described the move as “a part of a routine process as the officers’ one-year tenure will end this February”.
Bedi’s Challenges as AG
As Bedi assumed office, he is facing a series of critical legal battles. Punjab is engaged in a long-standing water-sharing dispute with Haryana over the SYL canal, which remains unresolved despite multiple rounds of negotiations at the higher levels. Moreover, the AG’s office will play a key role in defending Punjab’s stance in various legal confrontations with the central government, particularly on disputes over fiscal policies. The state government is also on the backfoot in the recent Patiala Assault Case involving a serving army colonel.
His resignation comes amid reports of internal pressure within the Punjab government, as AAP grapples with the fallout of its Delhi election defeat. With legal and governance challenges mounting, the leadership is said to be reassessing key appointments. The AG’s exit follows the party’s aggressive stance against the Centre after its electoral loss, including Punjab’s recent pushback on key legal and policy issues.
AG Resignation Sparks Political Controversy
Chandigarh: The resignation by Punjab Advocate-General (AG) Gurminder Singh has triggered a political storm, with opposition leaders accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government of manipulating the state’s legal system for its own interests.
Senior Congress leader and the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa alleged that AG Gurminder Singh was “forced to quit” as he resisted AAP’s plan to appoint 50 law officers from Delhi — loyal to Arvind Kejriwal. He claimed that these officers, drawing salaries from Punjab’s exchequer, would primarily defend AAP leaders like Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Satyendra Jain in various legal cases.
Bajwa criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for allegedly surrendering Punjab’s legal autonomy to Delhi. Calling the frequent AG resignations “a sign of disorder”, Bajwa questioned why AAP was ignoring Punjab’s own legal talent.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) general secretary and former Minister Bikram Singh Majithia echoed Bajwa’s concerns, alleging that AAP has been appointing Advocate-Generals based on political considerations rather than merit. He pointed out that three AGs had resigned in two years, reflecting instability.
Majithia accused AAP of following in Congress Chief Minister Charanjit Channi’s footsteps by treating AG appointments as political deals rather than professional selections. Taking a jibe at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, he remarked that Punjab’s governance was already in “ICU” and legal matters were being mishandled due to an “incompetent” leadership.
