AILU’s Haryana Unit Constituted

 Ramchander Siwach

THE Haryana unit of the All India Lawyers Union (AILU) was constituted at a convention of lawyers held at Rohtak recently. Forty lawyers from 13 districts of the state participated in this convention.

Hardev Singh, general secretary of AILU and a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India, inaugurated the convention. In his address, he pointed out the challenges before the country’s judicial system. He said the promulgation of the Indian Constitution in 1950 gave the country a sovereign, secular and democratic basis. But successive regimes at the centre tried to subvert this basis by bringing in draconian oppressive preventive detention laws like MISA, NSA, DIR and more recently the POTA. Singh emphasised that for the majority of our countrymen, access to a fair, fearless, affordable judiciary system is still a far cry.

The AILU, which was formed in 1982, has consistently fought against corruption in judiciary and taken up questions of democratisation, accountability and transparency in the judiciary system. Campaigns have also been launched against divisive fascist forces, globalisation and in favour of judicial autonomy. Hardev Singh said that the formation of a National Judicial Commission was a prime necessity to check judicial anarchy and also to lay drawn guidelines for appointments so that quality and merit do not become a casualty. He strongly advocated protection to the right to strike and condemned the misuse of contempt of court as a secret weapon. He advised the bar also to observe a self code of conduct. He also informed the convention that many important decisions would be taken at the 8th all India conference of the AILU to be held at Jalandhar next month.

In a special appeal, Inderjeet Singh, CPI(M) state secretary pointed out that human rights and civil liberties have been flouted in Haryana with impunity. Pointing out to the continued existence of illegal caste and khap panchayats in the rural areas, which have unbridled powers to issue fatwas and award punishment, Inderjeet Singh said  it amounts to nothing but a parallel judiciary. These ‘Kangaroo Courts’ continue to be an affront to rule of law. He exhorted the lawyers to realise their social commitment and rise to defend the interests of the exploited sections of society.

The convention was also addressed by Devi Lal from Fatehbad, Randhir Badhran (Panchkula), Raghbir Hooda (Rohtak) and O P Sharma from Faridabad. Among those who also spoke were S P Singh, national secretary and senior advocate of Delhi High Court, D K Aggarwal and Som Dutt Sharma. 

In his presidential comments Gian Singh, a veteran AILU activist called upon the participants to adhere to ideal professional ethics and realise their role as sensitive citizens striving for upholding human dignity both inside and outside their professional ambit. He agreed that the situation of virtual denial of human rights and civil liberties in Haryana warrants a serious intervention by more awakened advocates. He said that this is a moral duty which society expected us to discharge.

Devi Lal was appointed the convenor of the committee. It was decided that the elected committee would be constituted after holding conventions at various district headquarters.