Panaji, Feb 16 (TOI): Considering the large number of non-judicial vacancies in courts, the high court of Bombay at Goa has directed the two principal district judges to commence with the process of recruitment to fill up vacancies of sanctioned posts.

It has further directed the judges to “accord priority” and “endeavour to fill in the vacancies within a period of six months” —where the code of conduct restrictions will not apply—and directed them to file a status report with regard to the progress within three months. “It cannot be gainsaid that it is extremely difficult for the court establishments to function with so many vacancies. There is dire need in filing these vacancies expeditiously,” the court stated in its latest order.

Considering the apprehension that the code of conduct might be operational, the court clarified that “any restrictions in the code of conduct will not apply to the recruitment made to non-judicial posts on the establishment of North and South Goa districts.”

“This is more so, because this is not a case of creation or sanction of any new posts but this is only a direction to fill up the existing vacancies,” Justices Mahesh Sonak and Prithviraj K Chavan stated in the order.

Advocate general Dattaprasad Lawande stated the state has no objection if principal district judges immediately commence the recruitment process.