"Can't Absolve UOI Of Its Duty To File Reply On Pleas Against Haryana's 75% Job Quota For Locals Law": P&H High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday directed the Union Of India to filed its response on a bunch of pleas challenging the Haryana law (The Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act 2020) which provides 75% reservation for local people in private sector jobs having a monthly salary of less than Rs 30,000.

However, the Bench of Justice Ajay Tewari and Justice Pankaj Jain did note it with regret that the Union of India did not enter its appearance despite being served and despite the fact that the Solicitor General of India had personally appeared in the matter on February 3, 2022.

The Court also noted that the Solicitor General of India had himself conceded before the Court that these petitions involve substantial questions of law which would have to be gone into by this Court.

In view of the candid concession of the Solicitor General of India, the Court, on Tuesday, did not deem it appropriate to absolve the Union of India of its responsibility to appear and file reply in this matter.

Against this backdrop, the Court issued the following direction while noting that the Supreme Court has desired that the case be decided on or before 16.03.2022.

"A fresh copy of these petitions be handed over to the learned Additional Solicitor General of India so that he can ensure that proper replies are filed on or before 01.03.2022 with advance copies to the learned counsel for the petitioner/s, failing which we direct that the Law Secretary to the Govt. of India should appear in person to explain why the reply has not been filed."

With this, the Court adjourned the matter to March 3, 2022 with the direction to the State of Haryana that an advance copy of the written statement/s be served upon the counsel for the petitioner/s on or before March 1, 2022.

Senior Advocate Akshay Bhan, with Advocates Rohit Nagpal, Hiresh Choudhary, Surbhi Sharma, Ivan Singh Khosa, Shivam Grover, Akhilesh Barak appeared for the petitioner in CWP-24967-2021. Sr. Advocate Anupam Gupta, with Advocates Tushar Sharma, Gautam Pathania, Sukhpal Singh, Shekhran Singh Virk appeared for the petitioner in CWP-26573-2021 & CWP-1698-2022. Advocate G. S. Bhanda appeared for the petitioner in (CWP-584-2022). Advocate Reena Choudhary and Advocate Vishal Sharma appeared for the petitioner in CWP-25037-2021 & 25539-2021. Addl. AG Jagbir Malik appeared for the state of Haryana

Case title - FARIDABAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION v. STATE OF HARYANA AND ANOTHER

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