Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday called upon the Executive wing of the government to tighten its belt and improve its functioning to minimise the pressure on the Judiciary.People should not end up running to the judiciary for justice on the smallest of matters, said Captain Amarinder, while addressing members of the Punjab and Haryana Bar Association, led by its president Anmol Rattan Sidhu. Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Shiavaz Jal Vazifdar and other senior Judges also graced the occasion.With the Executive taking fewer decisions and leaving all vital matters to the judiciary, the latter was being over-burdened, said the Chief Minister, appreciating the work done by the judiciary for the welfare of the people.In response to the Bar’s demand for Rs 5 crore for upgrading the library and other infrastructure at bar council, the Chief Minister announced Rs 50 lakh as a small token for their contribution, lamenting his inability to give more in view of the state’s fiscal crisis. Lawyers require the best of libraries and other assets, he said, promising bigger contribution once the state’s economic situation starts improving. He pointed out that the Rs 2.08 lakh crore debt and huge fiscal deficit that his government had inherited was a massive problem but expressed gratitude to the Centre for the cooperation it was extending to the state.
Citing unemployment, agrarian crisis and economic revival as the biggest problems faced by his government, Captain Amarinder said the situation was challenging and required coordinated efforts of all tackle effectively.Captain Amarinder recalled how former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh always told him that as Prime Minister it was his duty to extend support to all the states, including the Akalis in Punjab. The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction that the BJP prime ministers, including former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee and current PM Narendra Modi, were treating the Congress government in the state in the same way.Earlier, the Chief Justice lauded Captain Amarinder’s various accomplishments, including his political career, books on military history and prolific writings.The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Digitized New Section Library of Punjab and Haryana High Court in the presence of the Chief Justice.Besides senior judges and lawyers, Punjab Advocate General, Atul Nanda and his Haryana counterpart, Baldev Raj Mahajan, CM's Media Advisor, Raveen Thukral, Advisor, BIS Chahal and Political Secretary, Karan Sekhon were present on the occasion.