By SATINDER BAINS
CHANDIGARH: H.C. Arora, a practicing advocate in Punjab and High Court Chandigarh was in news recently when Punjab and Haryana High Court appointed him Amicus Curies(friends of the court) to assist court in the Orbit bus case. It was not first time that he stood for the public cause. He has got distinction of filing over 200 Public Interest Litigations (PILs) to protect the human rights of victims.
His crusade for welfare and safety of acid attack victim girls and whistle blowers has given him recognition as human rights activist though he is a credible signature in the legal circles. He is the only advocate who fights for the victims of violence against women and never contest for the accused. In such cases he also bear the cost of litigation.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the Punjab, Haryana and UT of Chandigarh to frame the policy for acid attack victims on the PIL filed by Arora. Hundereds of acid attack victims all over the country were benefitted due to efforts of Arora.
The Supreme Court of India during hearing of a PIL filed by acid attack victim Luxmi of Delhi recently directed all the states and Union Territories to implement the policy on acid attack victims adopted by Haryana government which was result of Public Interest Litigation filed by Arora in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Punjab Government had already adopted the policy of paying compensation between Rs.5000 to Rs.3 lakhs to victims while other states are likely to follow.
“It is matter of great satisfaction for me that Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered both the states to enact a law for acid attack victims and whistle blowers”, Arora told Punjab News Express at his chamber in the High Court premises.
The law for protection of whistle blowers was also enacted following Arora took the matter to the High Court. Interestingly, in India only two states of Punjab and Haryana have so far framed law for protection of whistle blowers. The PILs filed by Arora included High Court directions to provide free medical treatment to freedom fighters in Chandigarh.
Punjab Excise Department was forced to close liquor vends in 107 villages on a petition contested by Arora. The High court has banned sale and use of China ‘dor’ for kite flying on Arora’s petition.
A PIL filed by Arora in the Punjab and Haryana High Court had led to dismissal of about 500 police and civil officials in Punjab and Haryana who were continuing in service despite being convicted by various courts. Punjab government had to dismiss dozens of Police officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Inspector and Sub-Inspectors who were sentenced in cases of murder, bribery and misconduct but rejoined the force after getting bail. In another PIL he filed against an IAS officer Sucha Ram Ladhar, the latter had to deposit Rs.3 crores in the state treasury which he had charged illegally as arbitration fee from farmers in land acquisition cases.
Arora is contesting a case for the handicapped sports persons of Punjab who had won top positions in the national and international sports meets but none of them was given award money after 2007. Recently, in an interim order, the High Court had ordered Punjab Government to pay Rs.2.25 lakh to a blind athlete Balwinder Kaur Noori of Khanna who had won gold medal in Para-Olympics but never got a penny from Punjab Government. Punjab Government has a policy to pay Rs.75, 000 to handicapped player for winning medal in international sports and Rs.51 lakhs to a normal sportsperson. Arora has challenged that policy to bring both categories at par. About 1100 sportspersons in Punjab are awaiting their reward money,
Arora informed.
Arora was a manager in the Bank of India at Abohar in Punjab before switching over to law profession. “My life changed after 1984 Delhi riots in which hundreds of innocent Sikhs were killed. One of my close friends was also burnt alive in a train near Delhi. At that time I formed a trust to help the riot victims and paid Rs.10, 000 compensation to as many victims he could manage with donations from friends. It was turning point in my life and I decided to join legal profession to help out victims of human rights, he explained.
Arora has literary interests and he has written three books mainly on freedom fighters like Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra, Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his latest is on Shaheed Kanshi Ram a renowned martyr of Gadar movement.