Chandigarh, November 21: Taking note on a Pubic Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking setting up of institution of Lokayukta in Chandigarh, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today appointed amicus curiae to assist it on point whether such PIL is maintainable.
“Chandigarh is the Capital of Punjab and Haryana and still there is no provision for appointment of a Lokayukta for its citizens. This is quite discriminatory against them”, said advocate and activist Hari Chand Arora, while filing PIL in the High court.
The petitioner has also alleged that in the absence of any anti-graft institution like Lokayukta , the officers or public functionaries of UT Chandigarh, who are on deputation from Punjab and Haryana, are having unbridled powers to act in arbitrary fashion and there is no system to ensure checks and balances.
The HC Bench heard the views of Punjab Advocate General on this issue, as he was incidentally present in the Court at that point of time. After hearing the petitioner at some length on the issue of maintainability of such a PIL, the Bench asked Ms. Rafeeza Hakeem, additional advocate general, Punjab, to assist the High Court on next date of hearing “as amicus”, while adjourning the PIL for further hearing to December 7.
