Bar assn poll on Feb 28, prez post candidates raise the heat
Battle lines have been drawn as 2,870 registered lawyers of Jalandhar are set to elect the new president of the District Bar Association on February 28.
In the fray for the key post of the president are Aditya Jain, who has remained president for the last two consecutive terms and is trying for a hat-trick, and Rattan Dua, ex-secretary of the DBA. Both are in a hectic campaign mode for the past nearly a month, primarily by holding high-budget parties in city hotels. Both have rolled out a huge agenda of works that they would pursue upon getting the top post.
The entry gate to the chambers of the lawyers and all roads leading to the courts have been covered with huge banners and posters put up by the contenders, who are investing heavily in their campaigns. Unlike the DBA president’s election, which was quite one-sided, both contenders have been using all their might to reach the victory podium.
Dua has tried to woo the larger chunk of younger lot of advocates by announcing stipends for them for sustenance in the initial years. Also on his plan is a comprehensive mentorship programme. Other welfare schemes that he has promised to his fellow colleagues include financial aid for members facing emergencies, health insurance, renovation and expansion of the chambers, etc.
Aditya, on the other hand, is focussing more on the works accomplished by him in the previous two tenures. These include installation of CCTV cameras in parking areas, starting of a new canteen, installing ACs in old library, water purifier systems, sound system in old library hall, etc. On his agenda while running for the third term is to get toll charges waived for lawyers, establishment of creche for working women lawyers and installation of inter-locking tiles in the parking lot. The promises of stipend, insurance of members and construction of lawyers’ chambers is on the agenda of both.
For the post of DBA secretary are three lawyers — Harsh Bhatt, Rohit Gambhir and Tarsem S Taak. Lawyers Harinder Pal Singh Narula and Ram Chhabra are vying for the post of senior vice-president. Four advocates Pardip Kumar Sharma, Rajnish Sidhi, Suraj Partap Singh and Vipan Kumar Khaira are in fray for the post of junior vice-president. The contestants for the post of joint secretary are Mohammad Sajid and Sahil Malhotra. Jasbir Singh, Sonalika, Vinay Kumar Sabharwal and Talwinder Kumar are contesting for the post of assistant secretary.
Amanat Bhagat, Mehul Khanna, Mohd Rafiq Azad, Mumtaz, Neha Attri, Paras Choudhary, Prabhu Dhir, Payal, Sonam, Tajinder Singh and Vijay Mishra are contesting for the post of executive members.
