G. L. Batra | Public Life

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career

G.L. Batra, fondly called as Gobind by his elders and Batra by his friends, completed his schooling from Hisar. His father tried to dissuade him from studying further as he wanted his son to look after the family land. The country was emerging from the shadow of foreign rule after Independence and G.L. Batra had aspirations to make most of the opportunities the new India offered. He was determined to study further. He ran away to his sister’s marital house in Ferozepur in Punjab and took admission in a college there with her sister’s support.

Eventually, his father relented and G.L. Batra moved back to Hisar and joined D N College. He cycled nearly ten miles every day from the village to reach the college. Many a times, if it turned dark on return, he would spend the night on a tree to escape from jackals and other wild animals that roamed in the barren land that stretched from the village to Hisar. Those who are familiar with the history of Haryana would know that the irrigation came to the part of the country where Arya Nagar is located only in 1965 after Indira Gandhi Canal was built.

After graduation, G.L. Batra joined the law department in Punjab University Chandigarh.

As Lawyer

G.L. Batra enrolled as an Advocate in November, 1962. He started his law practice in District Court, Hisar. In 1972, he was appointed as Public Prosecutor in the Department of Public Prosecution in the Government ofHaryana.He was appointed as District Attorney in 1978. As District Attorney, he was also deputed to Chandigarh as the Union Territory’s District Attorney. As Special Public Prosecutor, G.L. Batra represented the State in several famous trials.

In October, 1981, G.L. Batra was resigned as District Attorney and was appointed Deputy Advocate General in Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh.

G.L. Batra distinguished himself as an Advocate and Public Prosecutor of great repute. He carved a niche for himself while conducting civil and criminal litigation through his rich and diverse experience.

Haryana Vidhan Sabha

He served as Secretary of Haryana Legislative Assembly from 1983 to1988.
During his term, he was selected by Lok Sabha for Course of Instructions in Parliamentary Practice and Procedures, Recent Innovations and Developments in the House of Commons, United Kingdom.

Lok Sabha Secretariat

In view of his outstanding performance as Secretary of Haryana Vidhan Sabha, G.L. Batra was selected as Joint Secretary in the Lok Sabha Secretariatin September 1988.

He played an important role in establishing India’s new subject-based Parliamentary standing committee system. In fact, soon after he joined, he was assigned the task of studying the subject based committee system under consideration for the Indian Parliament. G.L. Batra spent many weeks in the House of Commons and House of Lords to undertake a deep understanding of their committee system. He effectively applied his understanding of the committee system in assisting the Lok Sabha Secretariat lay a solid foundation of the subject-based committee system which was formally inaugurated on March, 1993.

He was promoted as Additional Secretary in Lok Sabha Secretariat in 1991.

As Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary he served as secretary to a number of select and standing committees of the Lok Sabha. His contributions are well-documented.

As Additional Secretary, Lok Sabha,he was amongst other, in charge of the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training, and the Parliamentary Committees during an eventful period which witnessed the 73rdand 74thConstitutional Amendments, the reports of Joint Committee on Securities Scam, Joint Committee on Fertilizer Subsidy, The Judges Committee to inquire into the conduct of Justice Ramaswamy and many other committees.He was instrumental in successfully seeing through the birth of the departmentally related Standing Committee in 1993,which drew accolades from the Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha and a host of others.

As in-charge of Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training, he organized several orientation programmes/refresher courses on the Parliamentary process for new/old Members of Parliament, besides being a regular member of the faculty.

He visited various countries including United Kingdom, Cameroon, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Nigeria, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Egypt and France as Secretary to Parliamentary delegations, IPU Conferences, Commonwealth Speakers Conferences and for training programmes.

His work was applauded by successive Speakers of Lok Sabha and others.

Public Service Commission

Batra was appointed to the Constitutional post of Chairman of State Public Service Commission of Haryana in 1994. During his term, he conducted various prestigious examinations and selections including State Civil Services and Subordinate Judicial Services Selection.

During this period, he was unanimously elected and re-elected as National Chairman of the Body of Chairmen, State Public Service Commission, India for two terms.

His effective contribution in steering the conference was duly acknowledged by the unanimous resolution of the Conference.

Post Retirement

After his retirement,G.L. Batra served as executive director of Batra Hospital where his rich administrative experience helped the hospital improve its efficiency and branding.