Former Chairman of Haryana Bar Council, Randhir Singh Bidhran, has initiated a campaign in Kurukshetra, demanding the creation of a new capital for Haryana and a separate High Court. This movement received support from Mahendra Singh Chopra, former OSD of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda.
Hundreds of advocates, professors, sarpanches, and other social workers participated in the seminar organised by an organisation named Haryana Banao Abhiyan in Kurukshetra. All the participants passed a resolution, urging the creation of a new capital for Haryana and a separate High Court. MS Chopra, former OSD of Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda, also attended the discussion and delivered a speech as the chief guest and speaker in the seminar.
The President of District Bar Association Kaithal, the Secretary of District Bar Association Kurukshetra, and hundreds of other lawyers were present. The founders of the organisation announced plans to organise seminars at each district and subdivision level in the coming days to create public opinion on this important issue for Haryana under the banner of Haryana Banao Abhiyan.
M S Chopra highlighted the importance of building Haryana’s capital within the state and explained that it has been 57 years since Haryana was separated from Punjab, but the region is yet to gain the status of a fully autonomous state with its own capital and a separate High Court. Chandigarh, the capital of United Punjab, was declared a Union Territory and made the joint capital of both states. Centuries later, the Haryana region was recognized as a full administrative unit.
M S Chopra pointed out that the opportunity to create a special identity for Haryana based on its glorious history and rich ancient culture is being wasted. He emphasized the need for a separate identity for Haryana, similar to the political foresight shown by Himachal Pradesh in creating its own separate capital and High Court. The sharing of surplus waters of Ravi-Beas and the transfer of Hindi-speaking areas to the capital have created a puzzle that may not be easy to solve in the near future. Due to the long-standing status quo, this issue has been almost forgotten.
Highlighting the historical significance of Haryana, M S Chopra emphasized the need for a central place to preserve and promote the heritage of the state. He noted that Delhi, situated in this region, has been the capital of many Sultans, Kings, Emperor Harsh Vardhan of Thanesar, and Lohgarh of the first Sikh Raj. However, today’s Haryana is deprived of its capital, hindering the preservation of its rich identity.
Acknowledging that Haryana has not achieved special recognition and perfection, M S Chopra urged moving forward on the path of development by maintaining cordial relations between the two states.
Addressing the issue of unemployment in Haryana, M S Chopra stressed that frustrated youth are becoming victims of drugs and crime, committing suicide, or migrating to other countries. He highlighted the importance of creating new employment opportunities, and the construction of a new state capital could play a crucial role in solving this problem. Investments worth billions or trillions of rupees by foreign and private entities, similar to Gurugram, could create millions of different types of jobs, contributing to economic development.
The construction of a modern capital at an appropriate location, according to M S Chopra, would give a new impetus to the development of underdeveloped areas of the state. This, in turn, would strengthen the economy, moving it from a grain economy to a brain economy.
Randhir Singh Badhranan emphasized the issue of Haryana’s capital and the need for a separate High Court. The organization aims to include other sections of society to highlight the crucial issues of Haryana. The advocates in the forum are also demanding separate bars for Haryana and Punjab and significant provisions in the annual budget for the welfare of advocates. They are also advocating for the implementation of retirement benefits to advocates under the Advocates Welfare Fund Act through a separate Bar Council of Haryana.
Since many other states have already made budgetary provisions for the welfare of advocates in their annual budgets, the forum contends that it is essential to create a separate High Court in Haryana for a separate Bar Council. With more than 14,25,047 cases pending before the District and Subordinate Courts of Haryana and over 6,19,2,192 cases pending before the High Court, a separate High Court is crucial.