SC asks Punjab, Haryana to appoint law officers in 'transparent manner'

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Punjab and Haryana to adopt a fair, transparent and objective method in appointing law officers in the state.

The apex court also asked the state governments to keep the process free from political appeasement and interference.

It said that at the present, no norms, rules or policy govern the appointment process, adding that the Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana must look into the appointments and make his observations.

However, the court kept the already made appointments intact.

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court questioning the manner in which state governments are appointing law officers.

The Haryana Government has told the Supreme Court that it has 183 law officers, who were engaged without complying with any norm.

The state informed the court it has the Advocate General as the only validated post of the law officer and all other 183 appointments of additional advocate general, deputy advocate general and assistant advocate general cannot be held to be public employment.

An additional advocate general is paid Rs 1.4 lakh as salary every month.

Punjab has 174 law officers who were appointed without following any norms.