CHANDIGARH: After a series of flip-flops, the Punjab government has finally appointed senior advocate A P S Deol as the new advocate general (AG) Punjab, according to a notification issued by the state’s department of home affairs and justice on Monday evening.
The appointment of Deol has triggered a debate as he had represented former Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini, facing charges in the Behbal Kalan firing incident related to the Punjab’s sacrilege cases.
Deol has expertise in criminal and constitutional matters
Deol has replaced senior advocate Atul Nanda who had quit from the AG’s post following the resignation of Captain Amarinder Singh as Punjab chief minister.
Deol is a well-known lawyer of the Punjab and Haryana high court, specializing in criminal and constitutional matters.
He was designated as senior advocate by the high court in 2007. Deol had started his legal practice in 1984. As AG of the state, Deol will be the senior-most law officer of Punjab and would enjoy a rank equivalent to a cabinet minister. Sources said a senior advocate of the Punjab and Haryana high court, who is also close to the Congress high command, has also played a significant role in Deol’s elevation.
