Court Warns of Contempt Proceedings if Vacancies Are Not Filled by November-End
Published on: September 11, 2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Chandigarh administration to urgently fill vacancies for Deputy District Attorney and Assistant District Attorney positions. This order comes amid concerns over delays in justice due to the empty posts.
Court’s Directive:
- Vacancy Filling Deadline: The Court has mandated that all vacancies be filled by the end of November 2024. This follows a September 3, 2024, ruling by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal.
- Timeline Requirements:
- Finalize draft rules by September 30, 2024.
- Issue job advertisements by October 15, 2024.
- Complete the recruitment process by November 30, 2024.
- Contempt Warning: Failure to meet these deadlines may result in contempt of court proceedings against the Home/Law Secretary of Chandigarh.
Background:
The Court’s decision addresses a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting vacancies in the Chandigarh District Judiciary. Currently, three out of twelve Deputy District Attorney positions and five out of twenty Assistant District Attorney positions remain unfilled.
Explanation for Delays:
Chandigarh officials cited delays in finalizing new recruitment rules, transitioning from Punjab to Central Government guidelines. Draft rules are nearing completion.
Legal Representation:
- Petitioners: Advocate Tushaar Madaan.
- Union of India: Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain with Senior Panel Counsel Rohit Verma and Maneesh Bali.
- Chandigarh Administration: Additional Standing Counsel Jaivir Singh Chandail.
The Court has granted petitioners the right to seek further legal recourse if the administration fails to comply with the Court’s order.
