india

Updated: Apr 27, 2019 10:26 IST

Former judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court Zora Singh, 69, who is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate for Jalandhar (reserved) parliamentary seat, wants to help the poor and the downtrodden in legal matters, in addition to what he should do as a political leader.

“Now, I can sit with the people whom I want to serve, which was not an option when I was a judge,” said Zora Singh, who retired in 2012 after 35 years of service.

Before elevation to the high court in 2008, he had served as sessions judge in various districts of Punjab after joining the judicial services in 1977. “I am from a poor family and can understand the pain and needs of the people,” says Zora Singh, whose constituency has a considerable Scheduled Caste population.

Hailing from Dhudike in Moga, Zora Singh says he draws inspiration from freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai, who was also born in the same village. “When I was in the school, I used to walk-past Lalaji’s house and stories about his life inspired me. People of eminence from politics and other fields used to come to his house and I used to think if I can be like them ever in my life,” he says.

Putting the legacy of his career in the judiciary behind him, right now he is focused on politics. “I don’t mind if people prefix justice to my name or not. Important is that I get elected so that I can do what I want to do.”

In 2015, he was made the head a state commission by the then Akali-BJP dispensation to probe the incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and deaths of two Sikh protesters in police firing during protests thereafter.

He submitted the report in June 2016 and indicted the government of being lackadaisical in controlling the sacrilege. During his campaigning, he doesn’t miss a chance to highlight his findings and the failure of the government to act on them.