Petition regarding dearth of staff in High Court: DB directs Secy Law Deptt to file affidavit
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a petition filed by Joginder Singh, Bench Secretary, High Court regarding dearth of staff at various level (i.e.) High Court and District Courts, Pay Anomaly in respect of officers and staff and promotional avenues to Law Graduate Readers of High Court, a Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Justice Rajnesh Oswal and Justice Puneet Gupta directed Law Secretary to file a detailed affidavit clarifying aspects and also with regard to the steps undertaken by the Department in furtherance of financial concurrence for the 24 posts mentioned above.
When the petition came-up for hearing, the DB observed that pursuant to the order dated 11.11.2022, draft of Rs. 10,000 has been deposited. It is worthwhile to mention here that on 11.11.2022, the Division Bench imposed costs Rs 10,000 on Com/Secy Finance. DB after perusal of the order dated 30.11.2022, placed on record by the Finance Department, reveals that the Finance Department has conveyed its concurrence to the creation of 24 posts, the details of which has been given in the order itself. However, it is mentioned in the said order that the department shall update the Service Recruitment Rules accordingly. The perusal of the status report filed by the Law Department, reveals that the proposal for creation of 334 posts involves financial implication and the matter has been forwarded to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (Government of India). DB observed that it is not understandable that the proposal for creation of 24 posts, the Finance Department has granted concurrence to the proposal, but the proposal for the creation of 334 posts has been forwarded to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (GOI). This issue requires clarification from the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. In view of this, Division Bench directed the Secretary to Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Union Territory of J&K shall file a detailed affidavit clarifying the above mentioned aspects and also with regard to the steps undertaken by the Department in furtherance of financial concurrence for the 24 posts mentioned above.
