Over 95 law officers, including Assistant Advocates-General, Deputy Advocates-General, Senior Deputy Advocates-General, and Additional Advocates-General, have been appointed, according to a notification released by the Haryana government. Among those appointed is Vikas Barala, the son of Haryana BJP MP Subhash Barala, who is currently out on bail in a high-profile stalking and attempted kidnapping case dating back to 2017.
Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish Kumar were booked on August 5, 2017, following a complaint filed by Varnika Kundu, a radio jockey and the daughter of senior Haryana IAS officer VS Kundu (now retired). The case, which alleges stalking and attempted abduction, is still under trial before a Chandigarh court. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for August 2.
At the time of his arrest, Vikas was pursuing a law degree from Kurukshetra University. He was allowed to appear for a criminology exam under police custody while lodged in Chandigarh’s Burail jail. Despite the ongoing trial, sources reveal that his name was recommended for appointment by a screening committee comprising two retired judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The appointment order, issued by the Union Territory’s Home Secretary on July 18, lists Vikas Barala and five others as law officers selected to represent Haryana’s legal cell in Delhi.
According to the Haryana Law Officers (Engagement) Act, 2016, the hiring process started with an advertisement that was published in January. The Act describes the selection process for law officers, which includes examination by a committee that assesses applicants according to their professional background and caseload. As per the Act, applicants must disclose if any FIR has been registered against them or if they have been convicted in any case. However, the law prohibits only those convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude from being appointed.
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In addition to Barala, several other high-profile individuals have been appointed to the AG’s office. These include:
- Anu Pal, the younger sister of Justice Lisa Gill of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and also the sister of UT Home Secretary Mandeep Singh Brar.
- Swati Batra, daughter of former High Court judge Lalita Batra.
- Ruchi Sekhri, a BJP leader from Punjab.
- Nitin Kaushal, son of former Punjab Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal.
The appointments have stirred discussion due to the prominent family backgrounds of several appointees and the inclusion of individuals like Vikas Barala, who are facing ongoing legal proceedings.
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