Considered close confidant of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab Advocate-General Atul Nanda appears to be on a collision course with the Government, which has abolished 23 posts, including those of stenos and librarians, without taking him in confidence. His wife and Additional Advocate-General Rameeza Hakim has also resigned on Thursday.
Accusing the “interference in AG office’s functioning”, Nanda has sought revival of these posts.
The action, just about eight months before the Assembly polls in Punjab, has apparently not gone down well with Nanda, who has objected to the “arbitrary abolishment of posts in his office”. Questioning the decision, Nanda has written to the state Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan.
In a string worded letter, he has written that the Home Department effectively abolished 23 posts “without so much as the courtesy of an intimation or consultation with me as to the manner in which the said posts affect the functioning of my office”.
Nanda said some of the posts were critical for the functioning of any lawyer's office. “The working of the AG’s office is of a permanent nature and its main function is to defend, conduct or watch the interests of Government in cases pending before the Supreme Court of India, Punjab and Haryana HC, Chandigarh, and many tribunals and to file appeals and pursue the same on behalf of Government in higher courts.
The case work is increasing day by day and there is no possibility of decrease in load of work of this office,” he wrote in the letter.
The letter added, “The next six months are crucial as being end of the term. The government is likely to be faced with critical litigation which will require this office to work at its best. At a time like this, to try and cripple my office with the abolishing of posts, betrays an arbitrary approach if not, a total non-application of mind by the ACS Home.”
Nanda said that he found it “inexcusable” that the ACS Home, without the courtesy of having a discussion with him, acted in such a manner. It amounted to a clear “interference in the functioning” of his office.
Punjab AG asked the Chief Secretary to intervene in the matter and “direct the ACS Home to do the needful and revive the said posts”. Notably, Nanda has been on target of the Chief Minister’s detractors, including Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa, for poor losing out in significant cases, including Kotkapura firing incident. It has been learnt that among other things, removal of Nanda as state AG was also among demands raised by the party leaders and workers before the high command constituted three-member panel.
Meanwhile, Rameeza Hakeem has also put in her papers, which was also accepted by the Chief Minister.
Hakeem, who had also resigned the previous year but Chief Minister rejected her resignation citing her critical role in the Government’s legal team, said: “Regrettably, I find that I can no longer continue to do so. I have therefore tendered my resignation from the position of Additional Advocate General, Punjab with effect from June 1, 2021, with a request that it be accepted this time, so that I may be able to refocus my attention and efforts on my private practice and professional career.”