After almost 20 years of deadlock, the state government has finally given its approval for the creation of additional clerical posts in Magistrate Courts. The government last week approved the creation of 224 clerical posts in 112 Magistrate Courts, considering the increasing pendency of cases due to shortage of clerical staff in these courts.
According to sources in the Home Department, the decision came after Chief Justice of the Kerala HC Manjula Chellur held a meeting with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy this January for allocation of additional posts at Magistrate Courts. “The Chief Justice had asked for at least two additional clerical posts in all Magistrate Courts across the state. The (Home) Department after discussing with the Finance Department decided to give its nod for the post. The financial commitment involved in the creation of 224 posts in the entry level with pay scale of `9,940-`16,580 is `4,19,70,656 and it has been granted. This would be a little solace to the ministerial staff working in these courts who are burdened with additional work every day,” an official said.
The Registrar of the High Court had proposed the creation of 1,559 posts in civil courts and 784 posts in criminal courts based on a study conducted on 1993. The proposal was examined in detail but could not be agreed to by the government in view of financial constraints.
The Kerala Criminal Judicial Staff Association and the Kerala Civil Judicial Staff Organisation approached the HC for getting the recommendations in the study report implemented.