Punjab & Haryana bar council directs immediate halt to Hisar bar polls

Hisar: The controversy surrounding Hisar Bar Association polls intensified on Wednesday after the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana (BCPH), acting on directions of the Bar Council of India (BCI), ordered an immediate halt to the election process scheduled for June 12 and warned of disciplinary proceedings against election officials if the directions are not complied with.In a communication issued on June 10, the BCPH directed returning officer Dalip Jakhar and six assistant returning officers to immediately suspend the election schedule fixed for June 12. The council further directed the Bar Association, its office-bearers, ad-hoc committee members, candidates and supporters not to hold any election-related activity, including meetings, polling, voting or general house proceedings, until further orders.The latest directive comes a day after the Bar Council of India, through an interim order dated June 9, stayed the election process and directed that Dalip Jakhar should not perform any role connected with the elections. Despite that order, the District Bar Association issued a notice on June 10 bearing Jakhar's signature as returning officer, laying down polling guidelines and stating that elections would be conducted as scheduled on June 12.The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has informed that a General House Meeting of the Council has been convened on June 13 to consider and finalise the election schedule of all Bar Associations in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. Pending that decision, the Hisar election process has been ordered to remain in abeyance.The Council has also issued show-cause notices to Dalip Jakhar and the assistant returning officers, directing them to submit written replies within three days. The notice specifically warns that failure to comply with the order or failure to halt the election process may result in disciplinary proceedings under law without any further notice.The dispute originated from a complaint filed before the Bar Council of India by advocate Rajat Kalsan, who questioned the legality of the election process, the functioning of the Ad-hoc Committee and alleged violations relating to the voter list and election procedure. The Bar Council of India has already sought an inquiry report into the matter. MSID: 131637606 413 |