Jaipur: All the 15 Additional Advocate Generals in Rajasthan have resigned from their posts after the High Court questioned the government on its lawyers' absence from the court.
Lawyers of the High Court and lower courts in the state have been on strike for more than two months over various demands, including corruption-free judiciary, misuse of contempt provisions, disposal of pending cases against judges, probe into legal aid funds, and irregular appointment in judiciary.
The move by the AAGs comes after the High Court questioned the government on the absence of its lawyers from court and summoned the Principal Secretary, Law. Fourteen AAGs tendered their resignations to the Advocate General N M Lodha while one AAG, Dr Abhinav Sharma submitted his resignation to the High Court and requested the court to forward it to the Governor.
Dr Sharma, appearing in a habeas corpus matter before the division bench of the court comprising Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice J K Ranka, which asked Law Secretary to appear in person, argued that the comments by the court were unwarranted and that the High Court was not justified in passing remarks against a Constitutuional office.
He insisted that if no such comments were made then the High Court must get a corrigendum published. He argued that the AG is not on payrolls of the state and he is discharging constitutional duties and still the court made observation that the AG is not discharging duties. The court was transgressing its limits which is highly unconstitutional, Sharma said and tendered his resignation to the bench and requested it to forward the resignation to the Governor.
However, the bench refused to accept his resignation. It, then exempted Principal Secretary, Law from appearing before it in the matter.
