UT senior standing counsel quits

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, December 24

Just about a month after he was appointed as the Union Territory senior standing counsel, senior advocate Sanjeev Sharma has stepped down. His resignation has put under the spotlight the independence the office of the UT senior standing counsel enjoys in its functioning.

Sharma is the second senior standing counsel to have put in his papers within a short span. His predecessor, Suvir Sehgal, had resigned from the post on November 28. His resignation, too, had come as a surprise in the absence of any ostensible reason or even an indication of the things to follow.

Sharma, appointed to the post soon after, was unavailable for his comments on the issue. His office, when contacted, said Sharma was out of the country and would be available only next year. His resignation, days after his appointment, has given rise to speculation regarding the autonomy the standing counsel’s office enjoys. Sharma’s letter to his colleagues reportedly written soon after the submission of his resignation has, rather, lent credence of sorts to such theories.

In his letter dated December 21, Sharma reportedly expressed gratitude to his colleagues for being of such immense assistance in responding to the matters at hand. Sharma reportedly added he, unfortunately, found himself unable, as an independent professional, to accept the terms that had been offered to him for his appointment and had to, with a deep sense of regret, turn down the offer made to him as the senior standing counsel.

Sharma was appointed as the UT standing counsel earlier also. He had replaced Sanjay Kaushal, whose resignation was accepted more than a year after he had hung up his boots. Kaushal had offered to resign in January 22, 2013. But his resignation was not accepted and Kaushal was asked to continue. At that time, strong difference of opinion between the then UT Administrator and Kaushal was said to be the reason behind the action.