Vikas Barala's Name Removed from Haryana Law Officers List

The Haryana government has quietly removed Vikas Barala's name from the list of newly appointed law officers, just ten days after his controversial selection as Assistant Advocate General. This decision comes after facing severe public criticism and questions about appointing someone with a pending sexual harassment case.

Government sources confirm that the Home Department has informed Vikas about his removal from the law officers list. "He is not joining. The decision to drop him has been conveyed to him," officials said. Reports suggest that his father, Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala, advised the government to withdraw his son's name amid the growing controversy.

Vikas was initially named as Assistant Advocate General in a list of 97 law officers that Governor Bandaru Dattatreya approved on July 18. The appointments came after the Advocate General advertised 100 positions earlier this year, with selections made by a five-member committee headed by the AG.

The controversy erupted when Varnika Kundu, who had filed the stalking complaint against Vikas in 2017, strongly criticized his appointment on social media. Her Instagram post questioned how someone with a pending sexual harassment case could be given such an important government position. This public criticism created significant embarrassment for the BJP government. 

Even within the ruling party, leaders were divided about Vikas's appointment. Some defended the decision, arguing that a pending case shouldn't disqualify someone from government positions, especially when trials can take years to conclude. However, others admitted that his selection was likely due to his father's influence with the central leadership rather than merit.

One BJP leader, speaking anonymously, said the appointment damaged the party's image. "The Chief Minister might not have had much say in this matter. His inclusion brought bad publicity to us. We promote 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' on one hand, and approve a stalking accused as law officer on the other. The message sent by important decisions matters more than the decision itself." 

The 2017 case involved allegations that Vikas and his friend Ashish Kumar stalked and attempted to abduct Varnika Kundu, daughter of former IAS officer VS Kundu. The incident happened in Chandigarh, and the case is still pending in court. Vikas is currently out on bail.

This episode highlights the challenges political families face when trying to secure government positions for their children, especially when they have legal troubles. It also shows how social media criticism can force governments to reverse controversial decisions quickly.