The general house of Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association on Thursday asked its executive committee to cease functioning ahead of the upcoming annual polls to the bar body.
The decision was taken amid an infighting between the members of the Executive Committee, including the president and the secretary.
"The election committee shall take over the responsibility/charge of managing the affairs of the bar till the time next elected executive committee takes oath," the general house said in a unanimous decision.
The election committee has been authorised to only make day-to-day expenses, including dispersal of salaries. It, however, cannot take any policy decisions or make any fresh appointments.
On Wednesday, the executive committee of the Bar Association had stripped its president, Senior Advocate Sartej Singh Narula, of all the powers and decided that vice-president Nilesh Bhardwaj will serve as the Bar Association's acting president.
On the other hand, Narula contested the decision saying that the executive committee ceased to exist on March 2 in terms of rules. He urged the election committee to take over the affairs of the bar body.
However, the election committee said it does not have the mandate to take over the functioning of the bar association. Instead, it called for a general house meeting for a decision.
Today, the general house took following decisions:
1. The present executive committee including the president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary along with all executive members shall cease to hold office with immediate effect.
2. The allegations of financial bungling levelled against the president and the secretary for their current term (02.03.2025 to 23.04.2026) shall be enquired into by a committee of lawyers which shall be duly approved by general house.
3. Senior Advocate Rupinder Singh Khosla, chairman of the election committee and advocate Inder Preet Singh Kohli (IPS Kohli), co-chairman of election committee have been authorised as signatories for the purpose of signing cheques for making payments towards day-to-day affairs of the bar.
4. The members of the election committee have been authorised to take up difficulties being faced by the members of the bar.