the goan I network
MARGAO
Call it a height of lethargy of the Home department or otherwise, Assistant Public Prosecutors “ who represent the government and defend the State in numerous cases before the lower criminal courts “ are awaiting confirmation of services for years now for no fault of theirs.
The shocking revelation came to light after a group of APPs of the 2016 batch recently knocked the doors of the government for confirmation of their services after completing the two-year probation period in August last, only to realise that the services of the APPs belonging to the 2009 and 2011 batch are still awaiting confirmation.
While different governments had ruled the State during the last decade between 2008-2018, around 15 Assistant Public Prosecutors appointed in three separate batches in 2009, 2011 and 2016 are waiting their confirmation though they have all completed their two-year probation period as per the rules.
While the APPs directly come under the office of the Director of Prosecution, the Home department is the appointing authority of these government prosecutors after the selection process is completed by the Goa State Public Service Commission.
Director of Prosecution Sarojini Sardinha was unavailable for comment, but sources in the Director of Prosecution have laid the blame on the inordinate delay in confirming the services of the APPs directly at the doorsteps of the Home department.
Sources confirmed that the rules mandates the Home department to confirm the services of the APPs after completing the two-year probation by sending the files back to the GPSC, but in vain.
Inquiries by The Goan have revealed that the Home department is believed to have recently set in motion the process to confirm the six APPs of the 2009 batch. And, officials in the know were in the dark when exactly the process to confirm the APPs of the last two batches will take place, laying the blame at the doorsteps of the Home department.
An aggrieved APP pointed out that he has completed the two-year period of probation and is now entitled for confirmation as per the terms of appointment. Sources in the know said the aggrieved APPs had taken up their matter with the Director of Prosecution over the years, but in vain. “We fail to understand why the government takes months and years to confirm the services of the APPs even after completing the two-year probation period. The annual confidential reports of these officers are all with the department and they are required to only comply the terms of employment,” another aggrieved APP rued.
Sources said it has now become a norm than an exception that APPs are made to wait for years before hoping to get their services confirmed, with an official saying that a Public Prosecutor had retired sometime back before getting his services confirmed by the Home department.
Sources in the Director of Prosecution confirm that the rules mandates the Home department to confirm the services of the APPs after completing the two-year probation by sending the files back to the GPSC
Sources in the DoP say it has now become a norm than an exception that APPs are made to wait for years before hoping to get their services confirmed, with an official saying that a Public Prosecutor had retired sometime back before getting his services confirmed by the Home department
