Gurminder Singh resigned as Punjab Advocate-General on Sunday, a day after expressing his reluctance to continue in the role. He cited his intention to return to private practice as the reason for stepping down.
His successor, Advocate Maninderjit Singh Bedi, was appointed the same evening, with the official notification confirming his appointment.
In a resignation letter addressed to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Gurminder expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Punjab’s top law officer for the past 18 months. The letter, dated March 30, was handed over to the Chief Minister in the afternoon, in which he formally requested that his resignation be forwarded to the Governor for acceptance at the earliest.
Gurminder, who was appointed Advocate-General in October 2023, played a significant role in handling several high-profile legal matters for the state.
During his tenure, he defended the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP) in the Dallewal contempt case and played a crucial role in ensuring the dismissal of contempt proceedings linked to the farmers' blockade at Khanauri and Shambhu.
One of his key contributions was reopening the 1987 Ravi-Beas Water Tribunal report, allowing Punjab to push for a larger water share. His arguments led to a Tribunal-ordered ground assessment visit. Additionally, he successfully defended the state’s position on conducting panchayat and municipal elections, ensuring that legal hurdles were removed.
Gurminder also tackled the contentious issue of stubble burning, countering the widespread perception that Punjab alone was responsible. He shifted the focus to other contributing factors such as vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and construction-related activities.
His intervention in the Ram Rahim sacrilege case was instrumental in securing a Supreme Court stay on the High Court’s order, which had halted the trial.
Furthermore, he played a pivotal role in Punjab’s legal battle in the Shannon Power Project dispute, securing a status quo order from the Supreme Court.
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