Jammu: J&K High Court Bar Association (JKHBA), Jammu is holding elections on April 12 in which three candidates are going to take on each other. The contenders namely B.S. Slathia, S.K. Shukla and Sheikh Shakeel Ahmad are campaigning hard and are trying to woo young voters besides all members of J&KHCBA.
B.S. Slathia originally hails from Gurha Slathia and before shifting his practice to Jammu had also worked in Samba Courts. He was also appointed as Senior Central Government Standing Counsel for Jammu Wing of the State High Court and besides this Slathia has also served as Senior AAG and AAG. Slathia had resigned as AAG during Amar Nath Land Row. Slathia was also designated as a Senior Advocate by J&K High Court.
Slathia is also a political activist as he started his political career with Late Abdul Gani Lone in J&K People’s Conference and had unsuccessfully contested Assembly Elections from Samba constituency. Later Slathia switched over his loyalties towards Indian National Congress. Slathia is actively involved with Pradesh Congress.
S.K. Shukla originally hails from Basohli (Kathua) and came to limelight when during turmoil in the State he offered his services as State Counsel for Srinagar Wing of the State High Court. S.K. Shukla has emerged as an expert in constitutional/service matters. He is credited to render assistance in significant matters.
His name had been recommended twice by the collegium of J&K High Court for his elevation as Judge of the State High Court. However the final decision with regard to his elevation is awaited.
Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmad who is contesting for the post of President Bar Association Jammu (BAJ) had started his professional career in High Court HC) Jammu but his concern for social issues confronting people of Jammu and Kashmir State made him an expertise in Public Interest Litigations (PIL). It was because of his relentless efforts that, Shakeel Ahmad forced several multinational companies to erase their advertisements that they had put on rocks located in forests of Nandani thereby helping save our environment.
Sheikh Shakeel Ahmad while pursuing his professional duties towards his clients ensured that he acted like a watchdog and clear society of corrupt and incapable ones. His PILs against backdoor appointments in various departments ensured that sons and daughters of bigwigs including politicians and bureaucrats are ousted and vacancies filled in through proper procedures. This was an end of his tirade against corrupt.
Continuing with his efforts, the young lawyer ensured that all those who had been looting state exchequer by misusing their official position as minister, bureaucrats or Heads of Departments are kept on tenterhooks. His PILs against such officials even landed them in jails and at present he is vigorously pursuing cases against land grabbers who had been depriving state of his land bank and state exchequer of his financial resources.
His sincerest efforts and concern for communal harmony, peace and prosperity forced him to jump into land row that created unrest in the entire state. While staying put in Jammu, Shakeel ensured that peace is maintained at all costs. It was his efforts that he didn’t let communal tension flair up in the state and even confronted politicians to earn their ire. Undeterred, he continued to work for the society.
A social activist, singer, cricketer and good orator Shakeel Ahmad presently while practising also delivers lectures on PIL, RTI and other issues in Police Academy and IMPA besides at different forums in Delhi and other places in the country. A widely travelled person, Shakeel Ahmad is best suited as President of BAJ only because he will definitely represent aspirations of young lawyers while come up to the expectations of his seniors.
His candidature needs to be supported for the reason that he has also resolved to work for his fraternity to the extent where every possible demand is fulfilled. Unlike past, he promises to ensure that lawyers’ dignity is restored. He promises to expose young lawyers to the work and achievements of country’s top lawyers so that they also learn from their experiences. His resolve to help find health and life insurance cover for lawyers besides some financial assistance in case of any injury is on his top agenda.
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