A-G, govt at odds as 23 posts abolished

Chandigarh, June 17

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Punjab Advocate-General’s office has plunged into a crisis of sorts. Just about seven months before the Assembly polls in the state, differences have surfaced between Advocate-General Atul Nanda and the government, evident from the abolition of 23 not-so-high-level posts “without consulting him”. His wife and Additional Advocate-General Rameeza Hakim, too, has resigned from the post she held for more than four years.

Reacting to “arbitrary abolishment of posts in his office”, Nanda has shot off a communiqué to Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan, asserting the Home Department abolished 23 posts “without so much as the courtesy of consultation with me” to affect the functioning of his office. Nanda added some of the posts, including those of steno and librarian, were critical for the functioning of any lawyer’s office. “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.” — TNS