Only one bar body: Punjab & Haryana HC Bar Association passes resolution against Senior Advocates Association

The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (PHHCBA) has passed a resolution against another bar body, the Senior Advocates' Association, and has called for the renaming a lounge recently inaugurated in the latter's name by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu..At a General House meeting held on March 19, the PHHCBA said that no other bar association, including any Senior Advocates' Association, can be recognised at the High Court."There shall be only one Bar Association in the High Court, namely the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, Chandigarh and no other Bar Association, including any Senior Advocates Association, shall be recognized," the PHHCBA said.Additionally, PHHCBA declared that only the office bearers of its executive committee will be acknowledged, ruling out recognition of any position holders such as President, Secretary or Treasurer from the senior advocates’ body.The resolution further said that the room currently known as the “Senior Advocates Association Lounge” be renamed as the “Senior Advocates Room”, and that any inauguration plaques bearing names of office bearers other than those of the PHHCBA, be removed immediately.The lounge was inaugurated by the Chief Justice on February 27. .A Senior Advocate, however, called the controversy unwarranted."We are not a bar association in the nature of a High Court Bar Association, we are only an association of senior advocates. This controversy was not required,” a Senior Advocate told Bar & Bench..The resolution also vests exclusive representational authority in the Bar Association’s Executive Committee for all official meetings, functions and interactions with the High Court and other authorities. The Association said this position will be formally communicated to the Chief Justice as well as to the governments of Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh..The meeting further approved the constitution of an election committee to oversee upcoming Bar Association elections, comprising Senior Advocate Rupinder Singh Khosla as chairman, along with other designated members and coordinators.The resolutions were passed unanimously after discussions on a requisition signed by over 100 members of the Bar..[Read Resolution].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.