Hisar Bar polls: Ad-hoc panel challenges authority of returning officer

Hisar: A major controversy has erupted over the proposed District Bar Association elections in Hisar, with the ad hoc committee formally distancing itself from the election process and challenging the authority of senior advocate Dalip Jakhar, who recently announced the poll schedule as returning officer.In a strongly worded letter sent to the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council, the committee clarified that the decision to hold elections on June 12, 2026 was never authorised by it and that no formal resolution was passed to initiate the election process. The letter bears the signatures of committee members and acting president advocates J S Malhi, M S Nain, P K Sandhir, P C Mittal, Virender Malik, Kishore Dahiya, Shyam Godara, Urmila Sharma and Rita Nagpal.Questioning Dalip Jakhar's appointment as returning officer, the committee stated that the May 22 General House meeting was convened solely to deliberate on the draft constitution and proposed amendments. According to the committee, the issue of conducting elections was never part of the official agenda.The committee further claimed that preparations for the earlier proposed May 15 elections were already completed, including the constitution of an election committee, preparation of voter lists and submission of affidavits regarding reservation for women candidates. However, the elections were later deferred after directions were received from the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council to halt the process.Citing similar situations in other district bar associations across Punjab and Haryana, including the reported suspension of election results in the Jind Bar Association, the committee argued that there was no justification for initiating elections in Hisar under the present circumstances.The ad hoc committee also asserted that it had neither resigned nor transferred administrative control of the Bar Association to anyone. Objecting to Jakhar's public statements, the committee alleged that he projected himself as having complete authority over the Bar's functioning till the swearing-in ceremony, which, it said, was never approved by the General House.In its communication to the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council, the Bar Council of India and the district judiciary, the committee categorically stated that if elections are conducted at any level, the responsibility would not lie with the Ad Hoc Committee.Elections will be held at any cost: JakharResponding to the allegations, returning officer advocate Dalip Jakhar maintained that the elections would be conducted as scheduled on June 12, and the oath-taking ceremony would take place on June 15.Jakhar said the Punjab and Haryana Bar Association already conducted its annual elections on May 15, in which newly elected council members also cast their votes. "The Bar Council has no authority to interfere in the internal elections of a district bar association," he asserted.He further claimed that advocate J S Malhi publicly resigned before the General House and walked out of the meeting, following which the House unanimously appointed him as returning officer and vested him with full powers to conduct the elections and manage bar affairs till the formation of the new body. MSID:: 131293722 413 |