Patiala Bar association chief’s licence suspended

Patiala, July 13

The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has suspended the licence of Jatinderpal Singh Ghumaan, president, District Bar Association (DBA), Patiala, for failing to produce records related to the DBA’s elections.

In a written order, Karanjit Singh, a chairman of the Bar Council, said the outgoing president of the DBA, Patiala, had behaved in a “completely irresponsible manner, which is not expected from an elected president”.

He said a suo-motu complaint should be registered against him, and the matter should be put up before a special committee. In a separate order, the chairman had also directed for the preparation of a voter list of eligible voters for the impending elections.

The development took place after the DBA, Patiala, prepared a list of voters for its elections and appointed returning officers for its elections in March. The appointment by the outgoing president was questioned on the grounds that it was not done through the general house or the executive committee. The outgoing vice-president, Shivin Sharma, challenged it stating he was not made a part of it against the set procedure. Subsequently, the Bar Council then made Shivin Sharma a returning officer along with two others.

In its report submitted on July 10, the special committee had pointed out that the outgoing president had failed to submit the records of voters. He had failed to comply with the orders, which amounted to overreaching the licensing authority, and recommended the chairman to initiate suo-motu disciplinary proceedings against him.

Jatinderpal Singh Ghumaan said the executive of the DBA, Patiala, had appointed the returning officers in given time and as per the directions of the bar council. — TNS