Review of state counsel list: Next hearing on Oct 3

LUCKNOW: The state government on Monday informed the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court that a committee of top officers was reviewing the list of state counsel empanelled recently, which will be completed soon.

On the state’s request, the court listed the matter for further hearing on October 3.

A division bench of justice Vikram Nath and justice Daya Shankar Tripathi passed this order on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by MS Pawar, challenging the notification of the state government of July 7 for appointment of new state counsel in the high court.

The petitioner had alleged the appointment of state law officers was not in accordance with a valid procedure, keeping in view the various rulings in connection with this matter.

Advocate general (AG), Raghvendra Singh, along with chief standing counsel Ramesh Pandey, appeared on behalf of the state government and gave this information to the court. Senior advocate Bulbul Godiyal appeared for the petitioner.

Earlier, the court had provided time to the state government for compliance with its order of July 21 relating to the engagement and empanelment of new state counsel.

The court had directed the state government to ensure a review of the list of 201 government lawyers by August 8 and sought a status report from the state law department. The list had been issued on July 7.