Vacancies hold up litigation

It has been almost two weeks since these officers resigned. But the inordinate delay in putting a new team in place is taking its toll especially since most of the litigations involve the government. 

In fact, when the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan commenced their sitting on Monday a mention of this was made. 

Also, Kaul, while hearing another case pertaining to Buckingham Canal, made an oral observation as to how the absence of law officers is affecting the continuity of work.

As of now, all posts of law officers are political appointees. In the case of the public prosecutor, the party in power nominates the candidate and a full court has to ratify it. But now, with the latest resignations, there is speculation on who will step into those slots. 

The High Court is also seized of this issue through a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to make the recruitment based on merit, and not on political affiliation. Future appointments would depend on the outcome of this PIL.