HC flags staff crunch in govt advocate’s office

Prayagraj: Taking note of shortage of staff in the high court's office of govt advocate, the Allahabad High Court has directed state govt as well as advocate-general to apprise it of the steps taken to expedite the recruitment process in vacancies in govt advocate's office.The court directed that affidavit be filed in the matter by the secretary concerned of the state govt by the next date fixed, failing which the court will take serious view of the matter.Hearing a writ petition filed by Subedar Yadav, a division bench, comprising Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Swarupama Chaturvedi, in its order dated Feb 26 directed to list this case on Mar 16 for next hearing."Be it govt or advocate-general, if for shortage of staff or for any other inconvenience the state law officer/additional advocate-general fails in making proper arrangement of files by providing enough place and for its upkeep, and resultantly the court is not able to hear matters for want of assistance, it amounts to interference in the administration of justice," the court observed."The court matters must be kept on top priority for disposal and court means both bench and bar and bar would include state counsel. When we want speedy justice, the system must be in place. A system if paralyzed for either not filling up vacancies in time, the justice delivery system will certainly fail," the court said.Hearing the writ petition, the court noticed that file records of state counsels were not updated. It found that state counsels are not aware of the details to update the court only for the reason that files are not sent to them in advance and proper upkeep of records have surfaced as one a reason for inconvenience to the court.The high ranking state law officers, present in the court attributed this to shortage of class three and class four staff in the state law office. They said recruitment could be undertaken after the state govt grants permission."We do not know the modalities, but we do not appreciate the way the office of the advocate general is working. If there is any shortage of staff and the recruitment is not taking place, then it is either the govt or the office of the advocate-general is to be blamed. In no circumstance the court can be forced to wait for instructions and assistance from state counsels as it amounts to interference in the administration of justice and this leads to pendency" the court said.