Baldev Singh is Punjab AG

Senior advocate Baldev Singh has been appointed as the advocate general of Punjab. He will replace Hardev Singh Mattewal,who resigned from the post on health grounds. The resignation,which was submitted to the government around two weeks ago,was accepted by the chief minister on Tuesday.

Meanwhile,Mattewal has been appointed as legal advisor to the Punjab government in the rank of a cabinet minister. The appointment of Baldev Singh would mean the committee of four lawyers comprising Rupinder Singh Khosla,Chetan Mittal,S S Bhinder and H S Sidhu,which was handling the matters pertaining to the advocate general’s office,will now be disbanded. Rupinder Singh Khosla was officiating as the advocate general.

Baldev Singh,a native of Hisar and who specialises in criminal law,had represented the chief minister and his family members in the corruption case against them in Mohali,where they were acquitted.

“My priority will be to streamline work in the office of advocate general and also to ensure that the Punjab government is represented properly in the Supreme Court and the High Court. I will also ensure that the investigating officers appear in the High Court and assist the law officers well so that they (law officers) in turn can assist the court,” Baldev Singh told The Indian Express.