Delhi HC directs District & Sessions Judge, HQ to decide representation on promotion of Readers in District Court

The Delhi High Court has directed the District & Sessions Judge, Headquarter to decide within four weeks a representation made by the District and Sessions Court Employee Welfare Association on the issue of promotions of Readers in the District Court and the consequential filling up of vacancies. (District and Session Court Employee Welfare Association vs District & Sessions Judge, Headquarter).The order was passed by a Single Judge Bench of Justice Jyoti Singh. .The Court was considering the writ petition filed by District and Sessions Court Employee Welfare Association (Petitioner) seeking appropriate measures by way of promotions to fill up the vacancies of Readers i.e. Senior Judicial Assistants and Ahlmads or Judicial Assistants. .Apart from seeking of all the consequential benefits, i.e. seniority, arrears for those who get the benefit of promotions, the Petitioner also sought a recruitment drive for filling up the vacancies. .The Petitioner informed the Court that in March 2018, the Court had ordered the authorties to expeditiously make all endeavours to fill up the vacant posts..However, in spite of a lapse of over two years, no steps were taken towards promotions in the post of Judicial Assistants and Senior Judicial Assistants in the District Court. .It was further informed that a Representation on the issue was also made to the learned District and Sessions Judge, HQ in August 2020..In response to the petition, the Respondent authorities said that the process of appointment/recruitment in the posts of Junior Judicial Assistants, Senior Personal Assistants, Personal Assistants, Data Entry Operator and Group ‘C’ Employees had already been initiated and was underway. .As far as promotion to the post of Junior Judicial Assistants and Senior Judicial Assistants was concerned, the Court was informed that the Petitioner's Representaion shall be disposed of as expeditiously as possible..In view of the above, the Court ordered that the Representation be decided within four works and the outcome be communicated to the Petitioner. .In the fitness of things, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to the learned District & Sessions Judge to dispose of the Representation dated 07.08.2020 made by the Petitioner Association, as expeditiously as possible and not later than four weeks from today. Needless to state that the decision so taken on the Representation shall be communicated to the Petitioner Association, and the Association is at liberty to resort to the remedies available to it in law, if any grievance survives thereafterthe High Court directed. .Reiterating the order passed by the High Court in March 2018, the Court further observed, ...every endeavour shall be made by the learned District & Sessions Judge, to fill up the vacant posts, as expeditiously as possible.Delhi High Court.Advocates Rajat Aneja, Bhawana Pandey appeared for the Petitioner. .Standing Counsel Avnish Ahlawat with Additional Standing Counsel Rishikesh Kumar appeared for the Respondent authorties. .Read the Order: