The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday questioned Chandigarh and Haryana as to how they can make appointments to the VAT Tribunal without consulting the high court. The query was raised during the resumed hearing of two public interest litigations,challenging appointments of chairman and members of the tribunal,filed by Advocate H C Arora. The petitioner sought directions to Chandigarh Administration to appoint the chairman and members of UT Chandigarh Vat Tribunal only after consultation with the high court. The Additional Advocate General,Haryana and senior standing counsel for Chandigarh Administration were questioned as to how the chairman and members to the said tribunal can be appointed without consulting the high court. Law officers of Haryana and Chandigarh Administration sought a short adjournment to explain their stand. The PIL will now come up for hearing on September 20. It is pertinent to note that the Chief Minister of Haryana had made the aforesaid three appointments to Haryana Vat Tribunal without consulting the High Court. Likewise,the Chandigarh Administration had appointed its Advisor to Administrator as chairman of the UT Chandigarh Vats Tribunal,while the three posts of members are lying vacant.
