Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
SRINAGAR: Eminent lawyer Riyaz Ahmad Jan has resigned within three months of his appointment as Advocate General over “serious differences” with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir. Jehangir Iqbal Ganai has been consequently appointed as the new Advocate General alongwith 23 new government Advocates—13 for Kashmir and 10 for Jammu wing of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
“Yes, it’s a fact that yesterday I have resigned as Advocate General”, Jan confirmed his quitting to STATE TIMES. Asked why he had stepped down in just three months of his appointment dated March 15, 2015, Jan said, “I had developed serious differences with the government over certain crucial issues. Between the options of compromising and quitting, I chose to resign”. He, nevertheless, did not specify the issues on which he had developed “serious differences” with the government.
Law Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Mir told STATE TIMES that Jan’s resignation had been accepted by the government and advocate Jehangir Iqbal Ganai had been appointed as the new Advocate General on Tuesday. Asked what led to Jan’s quitting prematurely, Mir said, “Some differences had crept in between him and the government. He didn’t come up to the expectations of the government. Finally, he was asked to resign which he did immediately”.
One of the senior most and widely respected lawyers, Jan had replaced the Omar Abdullah government’s incumbent Mohammad Ishaq Qadiri on March 15 this year. Qadiri had submitted his resignation immediately after the results of the Assembly elections were out and the NC-Congress coalition failed to retain power in December 2014. However, Governor re-engaged him and asked him to continue till formation of the new representative government.
Jan had been designated as Senior Advocate by J&K High Court on March 28, 2012.
Though junior to several Additional Advocates General (AAGs) and Deputy Advocates General (DAGs), Jehangir Iqbal Ganai is rated as a successful lawyer. His pleading in so-called J&K Cricket Association fund scam on behalf of the association’s head and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah did not come in the way of his appointment as AG by the Mufti Sayeed government. Hailing from Mattan area of Bijbehara constituency in Anantnag district, Ganai’s father Mohammad Iqbal Ganai has served as Secretary of J&K Legislative Assembly until his retirement few years back. He was known to be a favourite of Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Syed Basharat Bukhari.
With the new appointments, Law Department has ordered nearly four-fold increase in the retainership and perks of the AG, AAGs, DAGs and Government Advocates. In the case of AG, it has been increased from Rs 19,000 to Rs 80,000. Similarly, a considerable hike has been ordered for each appearance in the court. Judicial sources said that the AG, who would currently take home Rs 1.00 to Rs 1,50 lakh, would now on be entitled to anything between Rs 3.00 lakh and Rs 5.00 lakh a month.
Meanwhile, Government on Tuesday appointed 23 Advocates—13 for Kashmir and 10 for Jammu wing of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
Zainab Shamas Watali, Ehsan Mirza and Purshottam Chander Sharma have been appointed as AAGs while as Faraz Iqbal, Rajeshwar Singh Durswal and Raman Sharma have been appointed as DAGs for Jammu Wing. Sanjeev Padha, Mohammad Nadeem Bhat, Sivangi Kant and Aarif Lateef Choudhary have been appointed as Government Advocates for the same wing of J&K High Court.
For Kashmir Wing, former Assistant Solicitor General of India Shabir Ahmad Naik, Nissar Hussain Shah, Nazir Ahmad Baba and Reyaz Hussain have been appointed as AAGs. Irfan Andleeb, Khalid Hameed, Shah Aamir, Qazi Rashid Shamas and Maajid Ganaie have been appointed as DAGs. Danish Mufti, Owais Geelani, Sameer Ahmad Dar and Sajad Mohi-ud-din have been appointed as Government Advocates.
