Supreme Court Rebukes Punjab for Legal Absenteeism

The Supreme Court criticized the Punjab government for its advocates' absenteeism in cases, demanding attendance assurance from the state's advocate general. This came amid a plea concerning bail for former minister Bikram Singh Majithia. The court adjourned the case, waiting for Punjab's response.

The Supreme Court strongly criticized the Punjab government on Monday over the absenteeism of its advocates in court cases, demanding effective measures to ensure their presence.

A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar expressed frustration over the issue during a hearing on a plea against Punjab and Haryana High Court's decision to grant bail to former minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a drugs case. The judge emphasized the repeated absence of Punjab's legal panel in both criminal and civil matters, terming it an 'everyday drama.'

Punjab's Advocate General Gurminder Singh apologized for the lapses and assured the court of future compliance. Meanwhile, Majithia, out on bail after spending five months in jail, claimed political harassment and requested the court to schedule interrogation dates. He had been involved in a probe based on a 2018 anti-drug task force report.

(With inputs from agencies.)