J&K Advocate General, law officers resign following stalemate over govt formation

After failing to put in their papers after Governors rule was imposed in the state, Governor N N Vohra recently directed Advocate general and other law officers to resign from their positions. Recently, J&K Pradesh Congress president Ghulam Ahmad Mir had written a letter to Governor Vohra in which he had urged him to seek resignation of those holding political posts and also called for a reshuffle in the administration alleging that some persons with political affiliations were awarded prized postings by the previous government.

Sources said that Governor Vohra is now planning to appoint new experienced lawyer on this coveted post.

Soon after the formation of government, then Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Basharat Bukhari appointed Advocate General and dozens of other law officers. Majority of these additional advocate generals, deputy advocate generals and law officers were relatives of either former ministers, legislators or politicians close to PDP and the BJP.

Soon after their appointment J&K government had also announced more than 300 per cent increase in the remuneration of these officers besides increasing their other perks.

“Advocate General and other law officers have resigned from their posts today,’’ Commissioner Secretary Law, Mohammad Ashraf Mir told The Indian Express.

After the death of former chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the Governor, sources said, was waiting for Advocate general and other law officers to resign from their posts. However, advocate general and other law officers kept on representing government in different cases. The Advocate General and other law officers were conveyed by the Commissioner secretary Law recently that they should resign from their posts, said the sources.