High Court Directive
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has instructed the Chandigarh administration to urgently fill vacancies for Deputy District Attorney and Assistant District Attorney. This order comes in response to concerns about the impact of these vacancies on the timely delivery of justice in the District Courts of Chandigarh.
Court’s Instructions
The Court has set a deadline of November 30, 2024, for filling these positions. The Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal emphasized the importance of these roles in maintaining the efficiency of the judiciary. They warned that failure to meet this deadline could result in contempt of court proceedings against the Home/Law Secretary of Chandigarh.
Vacancy Details
Currently, out of the twelve sanctioned Deputy District Attorney posts, three remain unfilled. Similarly, five out of twenty Assistant District Attorney positions are vacant. The Chandigarh administration cited delays in finalizing recruitment rules as the reason for the vacancies.
Timeline for Action
The Court has outlined a clear timeline for addressing these vacancies:
- Draft Rules Finalization: By September 30, 2024.
- Advertisement for Vacancies: To be issued by October 15, 2024, following the finalization of rules.
- Completion of Recruitment: By November 30, 2024.
Legal Representation
- Petitioners: Advocate Tushaar Madaan.
- Union of India: Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain, Senior Panel Counsel Rohit Verma, and Maneesh Bali.
- Chandigarh Administration: Additional Standing Counsel Jaivir Singh Chandail.
Next Steps
The Court has disposed of the petition but has allowed petitioners to file a new application if the administration fails to adhere to the given timeline.
