High Court summons state Additional Chief Secretary

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25

Mincing no words to say that the absence of sufficient District Attorneys or prosecutors will retard the pace of justice, Justice Rajan Gupta of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has summoned the Haryana Additional Chief Secretary.

The direction came on a petition alleging contempt of court filed by the All-Haryana Attorneys Welfare Association against Chief Secretary DS Dhesi and other respondents. The petitioner claimed that the High Court on July 17,2015, had asked Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to fill the vacancies of District Attorney, Deputy and Assistant District Attorney in the shortest possible time.

Directions were also issued to provide them with requisite support system.

Counsel appearing for the association submitted that despite clear directions issued by the Division Bench, steps have not been taken by the respondents to implement the same. As a result, a number of posts of prosecutor in Haryana remained vacant.

Taking cognizance of the contentions, Justice Gupta issued notice of motion to the respondents, which was accepted by the Haryana Deputy Advocate-General.

Justice Gupta then observed that he may seek instructions and apprise the court the reasons behind the state’s failure to adhere to the undertaking given before the High Court and non-compliance of the directions given by the Division Bench in July last year.

Before parting with the order, Justice Gupta granted 10 days to the respondents and directed the Additional Chief Secretary to remain present in the court with relevant instructions.

The Division Bench had earlier taken note of the assurance furnished by counsel for Punjab, Haryana and UT that sincere efforts were being made to fill all vacancies.

“Taking note of the status reports filed on behalf of the respondents, we direct that the process of appointment of DAs/DDAs/ADAs through direct recruitment be completed positively within nine months. In cases where appointment is to be made by promotion, the process be completed within one year,” the Bench had concluded.