Badals’ ‘conflict of interest’ echoes in HC

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2

Two months after the business interests of the Badals came under the judicial scanner with an anonymous writer questioning the permissibility of elected representatives owning commercial ventures, the issue echoed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court once again.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, amicus curiae or the friend of the court, advocate HC Arora, made it clear that he intended to file a petition in public interest exclusively on the issue of “conflict of interest” arising out of “substantial shares of Orbit Aviations and other private transport companies owned by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal”.

Arora also requested the Division Bench of Justice Satish Kumar Mittal and Justice Mahavir Singh Chauhan to relieve of his responsibility as the amicus curiae for enabling him to file a separate PIL.

The request came after the Bench made tentative verbal observation that the PIL was required to be confined to the cause of incident, adequacy of compensation paid to the victim’s family and ways to stop recurrence of such incidents. The Bench appeared to be of considered view that the issue of “conflict of interest” may be raised only through a separate PIL and not by enlarging the scope of the existing PIL.

The Bench asserted: “HC Arora, who has been appointed as amicus curiae, requests that he may be relieved from the case. Ordered accordingly”. The Bench observed that the state should maintain record, specifying the antecedents of drivers. The court also asked the advocate-general to discuss the issue with the Transport Department to make police verification mandatory for bus staff.