Chandigarh/Jalandhar, May 6, 2025 : In a significant step towards promoting social justice and inclusion, the Punjab Legislative Assembly today unanimously passed the Punjab Law Officers (Engagement) Amendment Act, 2025. This historic amendment will allow the Punjab government to relax the minimum annual professional income criteria for the appointment of Scheduled Caste candidates as law officers in the Office of the Advocate General, Punjab.
Presenting the bill during a special session focused on the protection of Punjab’s water resources, a cabinet minister of the Mann government stated that this amendment will ensure appropriate representation of Scheduled Caste candidates in the Office of the Advocate General. He emphasized that the Aam Aadmi Party had promised to appoint lawyers from poor and underprivileged backgrounds, and this amendment is in line with that commitment.
The minister informed that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Cabinet had reserved 58 vacancies in the Advocate General’s office for Scheduled Caste candidates. However, due to the high income ceiling set under the 2017 law, almost all these seats remained vacant. The purpose of this amendment is to lower the income limit, thereby simplifying the process for Scheduled Caste candidates to become part of the Advocate General’s office.
Addressing the stance of the Congress party on this issue, the minister remarked that despite having two cabinet ministers from the Scheduled Caste community, they failed to protect the rights of these communities. He also recalled his efforts to advocate for reservations in the 2017 Act, which were unfortunately not accepted by the previous Congress government. Ministers Mohinder Bhagat and MLAs Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, Budh Ram Singh, Nachhattar Pal, Rajneesh Kumar Dahiya, and Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary thanked the state government for bringing this amendment.
Summary: The Punjab Cabinet has amended the Law Officers Engagement Act, 2017, relaxing income criteria to enhance Scheduled Caste representation in the Advocate General’s office.