Law officers’ appointments in Kovai challenged

The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, before whom the PIL from advocate P Ganesan of Race Course in Coimbatore came up for hearing last week, clubbed it with another petition challenging similar appointment and posted it for further hearing on July 8. 

The petitioner had submitted that the Coimbatore District Collector had requested the District Judge to send a list of advocates suitable for the post of government advocates/law officers to the courts in the district. 

The process culminated with the issuance of a GO on June 9, which appointed 18 persons as law officers. But, to everyone’s shock and dismay, most of the persons who were offered the postings are unfit to hold the respective posts. He further noted that the law officers’ posts are not political ones, but they are public posts with great responsibility. 

They are to help the courts in the administration of justice. Unless they are selected on the basis of merit, ability and integrity, justice delivery system will be in peril. Unfortunately, it was given a go-by and unqualified persons, owing allegiance to the ruling party, were given the posts, he submitted.