S.A.S. Nagar, May 26– A meeting of the Punjab unit of the Indian Association of Lawyers was held under the chairmanship of Advocate Sampurn Singh Chajli, in which 24 issues were discussed, including the problems of the judiciary, lawyers and common people, and the nexus of some political leaders and corrupt senior officials in the state. A strategy was prepared and various committees were formed to resolve these issues.
Issuing a statement in this regard, Advocate Chaudhary Karamjit Singh (Member of Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Council), Advocates Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, Jaspal Singh Deepar, and Amarjit Singh Longia said that the nexus of some political leaders and senior officials in the state has been going on for the last 25-30 years, and its breaking is extremely necessary for the betterment of Punjab.
He stressed that action should be taken against those in high positions to curb corruption so that it can be completely eradicated. He welcomed the move by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to initiate action against a former minister, an MLA, and a senior police officer and the association assured the Chief Minister of all possible assistance in this regard.
He further said that the state has several laws including Punjab Village Common Act, Punjab Land Revenue Act, PUDA Act, and Senior Citizens Act, which give judicial powers to civil PCS and IAS officers, which should be immediately removed and handed over to civil courts. He said that people are not getting justice due to the powers given to government officials under these Acts, as in most of the cases decisions are being taken by taking bribe or on the recommendations of political leaders.
On the occasion, it was also demanded that the 35 vacant posts of judges in the Hon'ble High Court be filled immediately to ensure speedy justice to the people. He urged that thousands of persons, including Bandi Singhs, who have completed their sentence, should be released immediately. He also demanded that immediate action be taken against the leaders who criticize the judges publicly.
He demanded the government to immediately make a new law regarding the registries of small and alleged illegal colonies in Punjab, which have been closed, and start the registries as it is causing harm to the poor people of the state.
He said that as per the 2006 decision of the Supreme Court, the Punjab Police should be freed from political interference and brought under an independent board so that the police can perform its duty impartially. He also demanded that the police personnel engaged in providing security to individuals without any valid reason should be posted in police stations for the security of the people. He announced that a meeting would be held with the Punjab DGP soon regarding the problems being faced by lawyers and common people at the lower level from the police.
On the occasion, Advocate Chaudhary Karamjit Singh informed that the Bar Council has written a letter to the Central and State Government to give monthly allowance to the newly-registered lawyers, which should be implemented immediately. The draft of Advocate Protection Act for the protection of lawyers has been sent by the council to the Punjab government, and a meeting will be held soon with the Chief Minister to implement it.
The meeting was attended by Association President Advocate Nawal Kumar Chhibber, Central Committee Senior Members Advocate Harchand Singh Bath, Paramjit Singh Khanna, Hakam Singh Barnala, Bikram Singh Chajli, Bar Council Member Gurtej Singh Grewal, Sangrur Bar Association President Sukhjinder Singh Dhindsa, Secretary Simardeep Singh, and other members.