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Surender Sharma

Surender Sharma is a principal correspondent at Chandigarh. He covers Punjab and Haryana high court.

Articles by Surender Sharma

Punjab govt yet to foot PSPCL’s Rs 2,600 crore power subsidy bill

The state government is yet to pay Rs 2,600- crore power subsidy bill to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

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Updated on Mar 30, 2017 11:00 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Punjab AG Atul Nanda seeks extension in law officers’ contracts

The Punjab government has written to Punjab and Haryana high court, seeking extension of contracts till May 10 of law officers appointed by the previous SAD-BJP government.

Punjab advocate general Atul Nanda.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Mar 23, 2017 10:33 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Law officers’ appointment: Punjab plans legislation to blunt SC judgment

The Punjab government has decided to bring a legislation to apparently blunt the Supreme Court judgment on appointment of law officers. The March 2016 judgment of the SC makes it mandatory to have an eligibility criteria, besides constituting a search committee. After nod from the search committee, the names are to be sent to the chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana high court and appointments can take place after taking into account observations on suitability of candidates by the chief justice.

“We agree with the Supreme Court that there should be a minimum criteria and appointments should be made according to workload,” Nanda said.(HT File)

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Updated on Mar 19, 2017 10:49 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Punjab law officers move HC fearing termination of contracts

Fearing termination of their contracts with the change of guard in Punjab, over two dozen law officers of the state have moved the Punjab and Haryana high court demanding that they be not removed till the time government finalises rules of engagement of law officers.

The matter will be taken up by the high court bench of justice Jaishree Thakur on Saturday in which new advocate general, Punjab, Atul Nanda is expected to argue the case since most law officers were appointed during the SAD-BJP government tenure.(HT Representative Image)

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Updated on Mar 18, 2017 11:10 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

SC lawyer Atul Nanda, Captain’s defender in graft cases, is new advocate general of Punjab

Supreme Court senior advocate, Atul Nanda has been appointed as advocate general of Punjab. Nanda, replaces Ashok Aggarwal, who was appointed by SAD-BJP government in 2011. Aggarwal had resigned on March 11, soon after assembly election results were declared.

Supreme Court senior advocate Atul Nanda.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Mar 16, 2017 11:28 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Advocate general Aggarwal, 16 other law officers put in papers

Punjab advocate general (AG) Ashok Aggarwal has resigned as the state’s top law officer. Aggarwal took over as AG in 2011. Besides Aggarwal, as many as 16 more law officers have also submitted their resignations.

“I resigned on March 11, but I am yet to get confirmation of acceptance of my papers,” Aggarwal told Hindustan Times.(Representative image)

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Updated on Mar 15, 2017 10:20 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Driver turns protocol officer: HC says Justice Kaul violated right to equality

A single judge bench of Punjab and Haryana high court has held that the then chief justice of the high court and present Supreme Court judge, Sanjay Kishan Kaul “violated” right to equality in promoting Rajbir Singh, protocol officer with chief justice, who had risen fast from a driver to this position.

Supreme Court judge, Sanjay Kishan Kaul(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Mar 04, 2017 02:53 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

High court driver’s career wheels come off after promotion spree by judges

Rajbir Singh went from driver to protocol officer of the high court chief justice in just seven years.

The Punjab and Haryana high court quashed the out-of-turn promotions given to Rajbir Singh over seven years.(HT file photo)

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Updated on Mar 02, 2017 10:32 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma

State yet to receive Centre’s share of Rs 365 crore under SSA: Punjab to HC

Taking note of reports that Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers in Punjab have not been paid salaries for the past six months, the Punjab and high court has asked the Centre to file a reply by March 24 over non-disbursal of funds to the state government under the scheme.

Blaming the Centre for delay in release of salaries to teachers, Punjab additional advocate general Kamal Sehgal told the court that the state was yet to receive the Centre’s share of Rs 365 crore under the SSA.(HT Representative Image)

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Updated on Mar 01, 2017 11:38 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

HC allows VB to reopen 9-yr-old case against Ludhiana ex-SDO

The Punjab and Haryana high court has allowed the Punjab Vigilance Bureau to open a 2007 complaint against former sub divisional officer (SDO) of the Ludhiana municipal corporation whereby he was accused of amassing assets disproportionate to his known source of income.

The HC bench of justice Kuldip Singh was hearing a plea of Santosh Kumar, ex-SDO, who had approached court in 2007 alleging victimisation claiming that he had been probed several times but exonerated in each probe but VB had again initiated an inquiry.(HT Representative Image)

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Updated on Feb 25, 2017 11:09 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Give details of salary, other dues not paid to serving or retired staff: HC to Punjab

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Punjab government to give complete details of salaries or any other amount payable to serving or retired employees or others engaged under various schemes.

The direction was issued by the bench of justice Rajesh Bindal taking note of newspaper reports that suggested that teachers working under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) have not been paid their salaries for the last more than six months.(HT Representative Image)

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Updated on Feb 23, 2017 11:06 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Two Australian minors rescued from a house in Chandigarh on HC intervention

Two Australian minors allegedly kept against their wishes by their father were rescued by a warrant officer appointed by Punjab and Haryana high court from a house in Sector-19 and produced before the high court bench of justice AB Chaudhari on Tuesday.

The HC had acted on the petition of Navjinder Kaur, an Australian citizen and the mother of the two children.

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Updated on Feb 22, 2017 01:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Divorce case: HC rejects concocted story of Ludhiana exporter

‘Cooking up’ a story to avoid paying higher maintenance to his estranged wife and daughter has cost a Ludhiana ‘cycle exporter’ dear. The maintenance sum decided by the court is now substantially higher than his monthly salary claims.

The ‘exporter’, who is fighting a divorce case in the Punjab and Haryana high court, had claimed before the court that he did not own the enterprise and worked in his brother’s firm for a monthly salary of Rs 5,500.

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Updated on Feb 20, 2017 12:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma

Aided college staff entitled for leave encashment: High court

The Punjab and Haryana high court has held that employees of government-aided private colleges are entitled for leave encashment.

The HC bench of justice Kuldip Singh said employees would be entitled to encashment of their accumulated earned leave, subject to maximum limit permissible under the rules.(HT Representative Image)

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Updated on Feb 08, 2017 10:25 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Holiday Home Club scheme: HC upholds NRI panel’s order on refund by PTDC

Over 400 NRIs who had invested in Punjab Tourism Development Corporation’s (PTDC) Holiday Home Club scheme will get 1,100 dollars each of their investment back that too with interest, thirty years after the scheme was launched.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has upheld the Punjab NRI Commission’s decision on refund by PTDC for failing to provide the promised facility, even as it said that each investor will have to seek refund individually.(HT Representative Image)

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Updated on Feb 06, 2017 11:28 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

HC asks Haryana govt to look into ‘miners’ claim of bringing water from Rajasthan

The Punjab and Haryana high court has asked the Haryana government to look into the claims of two alleged ‘miners’ who had claimed before the court that they were bringing water from Rajasthan for washing construction material in the remote Mahendergarh district of the state.

One of the complaints was also lodged at the chief minister window on September 12, 2016, in Narnaul alleging the collusion of local mining department.(HT Representative Image)

india news

Updated on Jan 22, 2017 12:44 PM IST

Hindustan times, Chandigarh | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

With women empowerment in mind, HC wants Punjab, Haryana to emulate ‘Rs 10 a meal’ scheme

Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) has directed Punjab and Haryana governments to consider introducing Rs 10 a meal scheme of Chandigarh administration in order to generate employment avenues for women in distress.

Punjab and Haryana high court(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Jan 20, 2017 06:29 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Muktsar girl, electrocuted in school, gets ₹10-lakh relief

Chandigarh A 21-year-old Muktsar girl, who was amputated after coming in contact with a high-tension wire at her school in 2013, has been awarded ₹10-lakh compensation by the Punjab and Haryana high court.

The high court (HC) bench of justice RK Jain also ordered that whenever she applies for a job, the government will consider her case sympathetically, in the physically handicapped category, as per her qualification.

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Updated on Dec 26, 2016 11:00 PM IST

Himndustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Collegium clears 3 names for HC judges appointment

The Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) collegium is learnt to have cleared the names of three Haryana superior judicial service officers for elevation to the posts of additional judge of the HC. The names of legal remembrancer and administrative secretary, Haryana (law and legislative department), Kuldip Jain; Faridabad district and sessions judge Inderjeet Mehta; and Panipat district and sessions judge Anil Kumar Singh Panwar -- top three as per seniority -- were cleared by the collegium in the first week of December.

The HC collegium comprises chief justice SJ Vazifdar and two other senior-most judges, justices SS Saron and AK Mittal.(HT Representative Image)

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Updated on Dec 17, 2016 11:36 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Admission cancelled: HC directs Amritsar medical college to compensate HP youth

Four months after his admission into MBBS course at a medical college in Amritsar, a Himachal Pradesh youth has lost his seat as his caste certificate was not found in accordance with the prospectus.The Punjab and Haryana high court refused to interfere with the decision of college in cancelling his admission, however, asked the college to refund the fee deposited by him give him Rs 2 lakh compensation for negligently giving him admission, thus wasting his one year and in the process denying him an opportunity to take admission in another college.

The student, Yudhanshu Anugural had taken admission at Government Medical College, Amritsar on September 19 as a scheduled caste (SC) category candidate after qualifying Punjab Pre Medical Entrance Test (PMET-2016).(HT Representative Image)

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Updated on Dec 16, 2016 02:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

HC directs Haryana DGP to have an IPS probe the ‘honour killing’ of Banur youth

Two years after a Banur resident had approached Punjab and Haryana high court seeking probe into the alleged honour killing of his 30-year-old son, the court has directed Haryana director general of police (DGP) to get the matter investigated by a special investigation team (SIT) headed by an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

The youth, named Gurjit Singh, who worked in merchant navy, was found hanging on May 8, 2014 at the house of a Jagadhri resident in Yamunanagar district in Haryana(HT Representative Image)

india news

Updated on Dec 15, 2016 01:14 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Self-made man, unorthodox approach: Law fraternity on CJI-designate Khehar

First Sikh to be India’s Chief Justice, Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar will hold the post till August 28, 2017. He will be the 44th CJI. The CJI-designate has a reputation as a hardworking, competent and straightforward man.

india news

Updated on Dec 07, 2016 02:18 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Langah knocks High Court doors, seeks stay on conviction in DA case

Days after he was fielded by the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as a candidate for Dera Baba Nanak assembly seat for 2017 polls, senior party leader Sucha Singh Langah has moved the Punjab and Haryana high court, seeking stay on his conviction in a disproportionate assets (DA) case. The Akali veteran was convicted in the Rs 13-crore DA case in February 2015 by a SAS Nagar court. Subsequently, his sentencing to a three-year jail term was suspended by a high court bench in March 2015, but the conviction was not stayed.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sucha Singh Langah.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Dec 06, 2016 10:51 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Chief justice has ‘unfettered’ powers on appointments of employees: High Court

It is the sole power of the chief justice to appoint a person on any post in the high court, as per requirement.

The decisions of the then chief justices have been challenged by 18 high court senior assistants.(HT Representative Image)

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Updated on Nov 27, 2016 01:47 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

HC acquits bus driver convicted of 'causing’ four deaths on GT Road

The Punjab and Haryana high court has let off a Punjab Roadways bus driver who was booked for causing four deaths due to negligence by ramming his bus into an auto-rickshaw being driven on wrong side on the Grand Trunk Road in Karnal district of Haryana.

The high court found that the bus driver was not at fault and the accident was result of the auto.(HT Representative Image)

india news

Updated on Nov 27, 2016 12:47 PM IST

Hindustan times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

1,500 Punjab and Haryana high court lawyers seek transfer policy for judges

Even as the Centre and the Supreme Court are caught in a logjam over the memorandum of procedure for appointments in higher judiciary, over 1,500 lawyers of Punjab and Haryana high court have sent an open letter to chief justice of India, TS Thakur, seeking implementation of a transfer policy for the high court judges, with fixed tenure outside their home states.

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Updated on Nov 24, 2016 10:44 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Centre mulls free legal service as yardstick for appointment of lawyers as HC judges

In order to encourage lawyers to render free legal assistance to the poor in high courts, the Centre is mulling making ‘pro bono’ (voluntary) legal service as one of the yardstick to be considered for appointment of high court judges from among advocates.

Many of the lawyers in the Supreme Court (SC) and high courts have been seeking weightage to lawyers rendering ‘pro bono’ legal assistance for designation as senior advocates and appointment as judges.(HT Representative Image)

india news

Updated on Nov 19, 2016 01:20 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

HC directs vigilance bureau to scrutinise graft complaints against sarpanches

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) to scrutinise complaints, register first information reports (FIRs) and start investigations against serving and former sarpanches facing corruption charges

The high court bench of justice Fatehdeep Singh held that sarpanches are public servant, thus could be investigated by invoking the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.(HT Representative Image)

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Updated on Nov 13, 2016 10:21 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Matter has hit dead end for Punjab after SC verdict on SYL, say legal experts

“I would say, go as per law. Don’t take the matter to streets. It is not a dispute between two countries, but between two states of one country,” Harbhagwan Singh, former Punjab advocate general, says.

CM Badal and his deputy Sukhbir at a press conference in Chandigarh on Thursday.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Nov 10, 2016 10:52 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

HC seeks forensic experts’ court visit details from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to give details of court visits of forensic laboratory officials to depose in cases during 2016.

The direction came from the high court bench of justice Rajesh Bindal recently after the counsel for Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Chandigarh, pointed out that reports of forensic examination given by the CFSL were per se admissible as evidence.(Representative image)

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Updated on Oct 26, 2016 12:17 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

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Surender Sharma

Surender Sharma is a principal correspondent at Chandigarh. He covers Punjab and Haryana high court.

The state government is yet to pay Rs 2,600- crore power subsidy bill to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

The Punjab government has written to Punjab and Haryana high court, seeking extension of contracts till May 10 of law officers appointed by the previous SAD-BJP government.

Fearing termination of their contracts with the change of guard in Punjab, over two dozen law officers of the state have moved the Punjab and Haryana high court demanding that they be not removed till the time government finalises rules of engagement of law officers.

Supreme Court senior advocate, Atul Nanda has been appointed as advocate general of Punjab. Nanda, replaces Ashok Aggarwal, who was appointed by SAD-BJP government in 2011. Aggarwal had resigned on March 11, soon after assembly election results were declared.

Punjab advocate general (AG) Ashok Aggarwal has resigned as the state’s top law officer. Aggarwal took over as AG in 2011. Besides Aggarwal, as many as 16 more law officers have also submitted their resignations.

Rajbir Singh went from driver to protocol officer of the high court chief justice in just seven years.

Taking note of reports that Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers in Punjab have not been paid salaries for the past six months, the Punjab and high court has asked the Centre to file a reply by March 24 over non-disbursal of funds to the state government under the scheme.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has allowed the Punjab Vigilance Bureau to open a 2007 complaint against former sub divisional officer (SDO) of the Ludhiana municipal corporation whereby he was accused of amassing assets disproportionate to his known source of income.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Punjab government to give complete details of salaries or any other amount payable to serving or retired employees or others engaged under various schemes.

Two Australian minors allegedly kept against their wishes by their father were rescued by a warrant officer appointed by Punjab and Haryana high court from a house in Sector-19 and produced before the high court bench of justice AB Chaudhari on Tuesday.

‘Cooking up’ a story to avoid paying higher maintenance to his estranged wife and daughter has cost a Ludhiana ‘cycle exporter’ dear. The maintenance sum decided by the court is now substantially higher than his monthly salary claims.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has held that employees of government-aided private colleges are entitled for leave encashment.

Over 400 NRIs who had invested in Punjab Tourism Development Corporation’s (PTDC) Holiday Home Club scheme will get 1,100 dollars each of their investment back that too with interest, thirty years after the scheme was launched.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has asked the Haryana government to look into the claims of two alleged ‘miners’ who had claimed before the court that they were bringing water from Rajasthan for washing construction material in the remote Mahendergarh district of the state.

Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) has directed Punjab and Haryana governments to consider introducing Rs 10 a meal scheme of Chandigarh administration in order to generate employment avenues for women in distress.

Chandigarh A 21-year-old Muktsar girl, who was amputated after coming in contact with a high-tension wire at her school in 2013, has been awarded ₹10-lakh compensation by the Punjab and Haryana high court.

First Sikh to be India’s Chief Justice, Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar will hold the post till August 28, 2017. He will be the 44th CJI. The CJI-designate has a reputation as a hardworking, competent and straightforward man.

It is the sole power of the chief justice to appoint a person on any post in the high court, as per requirement.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has let off a Punjab Roadways bus driver who was booked for causing four deaths due to negligence by ramming his bus into an auto-rickshaw being driven on wrong side on the Grand Trunk Road in Karnal district of Haryana.

In order to encourage lawyers to render free legal assistance to the poor in high courts, the Centre is mulling making ‘pro bono’ (voluntary) legal service as one of the yardstick to be considered for appointment of high court judges from among advocates.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) to scrutinise complaints, register first information reports (FIRs) and start investigations against serving and former sarpanches facing corruption charges

“I would say, go as per law. Don’t take the matter to streets. It is not a dispute between two countries, but between two states of one country,” Harbhagwan Singh, former Punjab advocate general, says.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to give details of court visits of forensic laboratory officials to depose in cases during 2016.

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