Split in DBA over prez row

Ludhiana: On the heels of a stormy general house meeting of the District Bar Association (DBA) on Friday, the returning officers on Saturday came out with a notification for the election of DBA president following the controversy over the incumbent president.
On Friday, DBA president Ashok Mittal had “delegated” his powers to vice-president Rajinder Pal Singh Babbar for some time, owing to poor health.
In a letter addressed to the vice-president on July 18, the president had said, “I will be highly obliged if you discharge the duties of the president on my behalf, since I am not keeping good health now a days till I get fit.”
However, a document signed by vice-president, joint secretary, finance secretary and seven executive members with heading “proceedings of meeting of general house of DBA held on July 19 under the chairmanship of DBA vice-president Rajinder Pal Singh Babbar,” had said that “Some of the members expressed the view that since president Ashok Mittal is not keeping good health, therefore as per the DBA constitution, Babbar should act as president in his absence.”
The document said, “Some other members expressed their view that the behaviour of Ashok Mittal with staff members and fellow colleagues is not good, therefore he should be removed from presidentship and fresh elections should be held on July 31.”
The signatories of the document said in letter had rejected the views on removal of president and meeting was “adjourned”, resolving that the vice-president will act as president till he regains his health.
Another document, signed by secretary Sham Sunder Ahuja, citing views of few advocates, said Ashok Mittal is discharged from the post of president and fresh elections would be conducted on July 31 to be conducted by the RO team.
On Saturday, a letter signed by RO Surunder Singh Khakh, AROs D R Sandhu, Lalita Jain and Amardeep Bahtia declared the schedule for elections of the president.
Reacting to the development, Ashok Mittal said the vice-president, joint, finance secretaries and seven executive committee members have supported him and he has not resigned, but delegated powers to the vice president for some time because of ill-health. He said proceedings of the meeting called by secretary were illegal and unconstitutional as Ahuja could only call an urgent meeting after getting a written permission from him.
Mittal said executive and office-bearers excluding secretary have passed a resolution that meeting was illegal as it was passed without the agenda in the general house.
Responding to Mittal’s claims, Ahuja said after becoming president, Mittal exhibited aggression and had even thrashed an advocate and a liftman besides misbehaving with six to seven judges. He said he had got a written complaint against him and one complaint is pending with the police.
Ahuja said when there is a complaint against the president, there is no need for secretary to take permission from him.