HC pulls up AAP govt over vacancies in family courts, DSLSA

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday pulled up the AAP government for not filling up the vacant posts of family court presiding officers despite nine recommendations made by it.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao said the high court had made nine recommendations for appointment to the vacant posts, but till date nothing has been done and no reasons have been given for the same.

It directed the Delhi government to file an affidavit indicating the reasons for not appointing anyone to the post of presiding officer in the family courts in several District Courts, including that of Saket here, and listed the matter for further hearing on October 12.

The bench said three high court judges were burdened with extra family court matters due to the vacancy and if the appointments had been made, then they could have been allocated other matters.

The Delhi High Court is presently functioning with 33 judges as against a sanctioned strength of 60.

The bench also highlighted the issue of vacancies in the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) which were also not filled up despite the high court recommendations.

It said the vacancies have led to the "legal aid system getting derailed" and delay in payments to legal aid lawyers as well as disbursement of compensation.

The bench told the Delhi government that if appropriate steps are not taken to fill up the vacancies, in the family courts and DSLSA, then the high court would be forced to take coercive action.

The court was hearing two PILs on the issue of vacancies in family courts.

One PIL was filed by a woman whose divorce petition has been pending in a family court since January this year and the other was initiated by the high court itself after getting a letter on the issue from one of its judges.