Move to appoint Justice Gill as Punjab Lokpal opposed

Saturday 11th August 2018 07:52 EDT
 

CHANDIGARH: Punjab government's proposal to appoint Justice Mehtab Singh Gill as Punjab Lokpal continues to remain a issue between the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal- Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) alliance. A delegation of coalition leaders recently approached Governor VP Singh Badnore to stall the move. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal called Justice Gill a Congressman. He said, “The institution of Lokpal should be above board, and anyone against whom aspersions are cast can't be appointed for the post.”

He said the lokpal should be a person of impeccable character and as per the Punjab Lokpal Act (1996), the occupant shall not be connected with any political party. “Why use a former judge as a tool against the opposition?” he questioned. Responding to his question, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Sunil Jakhar said, “Calling Justice Gill a Congressman is disrespect to the person who had held the post of a judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court. The Akalis fear that with Gill's appointment, skeletons will start tumbling out of their cupboard.”

Led by Sukhbir and BJP general secretary Parveen Bansal, the delegation submitted a memorandum to the governor, giving details of Justice Gill's purported association with the Congress and Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh. The party has also submitted a representation to Punjab and Haryana high court on the matter, seeking a review of the decision. Meanwhile, the state government has moved a formal case to the HC for a formal nod. “We are waiting for HC's nod, to appoint Justice Gill as Lokpal,” a state government functionary said.

The post has been vacant since April, when Justice (retd) Satish Kumar Mittal had resigned to join as the Haryana Human Rights Commission chairman. Mittal was appointed in 2016 when Justice (retd) Jai Singh Sekhon, an elder brother of former Akali minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, passed away. “As judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court Justice Gill was accused of malpractices using his influence with tainted former PPSC Chairman Ravi Sidhu to get jobs for his kin,” Sukhbir said.


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