Shimla, March 27, 2025 – The Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken strong note of the non-functional State Transport Appellate Tribunal (STAT), directing the state government to urgently fill key staff vacancies. The court warned that without a Steno Typist and Judgment Writer, the newly posted Presiding Officer, District & Sessions Judge Rajesh Tomar, would be unable to perform his duties.
The case stems from a petition filed by Manju Sekhri vs. State of HP & Ors., where the applicant sought to restore her writ petition (CWP No. 7595 of 2022) after its transfer to STAT in 2023. The Tribunal, however, has remained non-functional due to staff shortages.
Judicial Crisis in STAT
The High Court had previously ordered the transfer of the applicant's writ petition to the Appellate Tribunal on April 13, 2023, registering it as Appeal No. 9 of 2023. However, the Tribunal faced a setback when the Presiding Officer was withdrawn due to staff paucity, leaving appeals like Sekhri’s in limbo.
With the recent March 21, 2025 notification appointing Judge Rajesh Tomar as Chairman-cum-Member of the Tribunal, the High Court expressed concern that the lack of essential personnel would continue to obstruct justice.
Government's Half-Measures Not Enough
The government submitted a fresh status report on March 25, 2025, claiming that except for the posts of Steno Typist and Judgment Writer, all other positions had been filled. While a driver was arranged on an outsourced basis, the government admitted that Himachal Pradesh State Electronic Development Corporation (HPSEDC) had been asked to provide a panel of candidates for the missing roles.
However, the High Court rejected the outsourcing proposal, stating that such critical roles require direct accountability to the Tribunal and cannot be handled through temporary hires. The court suggested filling these vacancies through secondment, deputation, or re-employment.
Deadline Set for Government Action
The court has directed the state to complete regular appointments by May 15, 2025, ensuring that competent staff are placed at the Tribunal. In the interim, it ordered the government to deploy skilled personnel via re-employment or transfer by April 4, 2025, to prevent further judicial delays.
With justice hanging in balance, all eyes are now on the government’s next move. Will it act promptly, or will another judicial institution be left crippled by bureaucratic inertia?
Next Hearing Scheduled for April 7, 2025
The matter will be reviewed before an appropriate bench, with the government required to submit a fresh status report and action taken details.
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