Staff crunch affecting criminal justice system

PANAJI
The Directorate of Prosecution is running short of prosecutors up to a quarter of its sanctioned strength, severely affecting prosecution in trials across the State.
The role of prosecutors is crucial in ensuring convictions, but with their numbers small, those on duty are overburdened. Also, the department is short of staff in its administrative and accounts sections as well.
As many as 7 assistant public prosecutor (APP) posts have been vacant. Three of these are in Margao, two in Vasco and one each in Mapusa, Valpoi and Canacona. Besides, more that 15 clerical staff and other supporting staff posts are vacant.
Though the department has given an offer letter to 4 candidates for the APP posts, queries have not been sorted out by the home department yet and their appointment procedure is still incomplete.
Two APP posts reserved for freedom fighters' children could not be filled even after advertising for them twice as suitable candidates from the category did not apply for the post.
In the administrative section, even the post of Accountant, deputy director, Jr. Steno to the director in the central office is vacant.
The Valpoi, Vasco, Ponda APP offices are also in need of a lower division clerk and in Margao, two LDC posts are vacant. Sources in the Prosecution Department said, these administrative appointments are pending since government wanted to appoint clerks through single window system in all departments.
Currently, there are 28 APPs functioning in the department, and the services of six appointed in 2009 are yet to be confirmed. Several have also not got mandatory promotional benefits as per the modified assured career progression scheme (MACP) even after completing 10 years of service. Some public prosecutors have not got the benefit of MACP even after retiring from from service on superannuation.
Lack of clerical staff in Valpoi, Ponda, Vasco and Margao is compelling APPs to undertake typing work and also manage other clerical chores themselves.
19 APPs appointed between 1982-2005 were confirmed in 2012. After that, no APP has been confirmed.
The department has also proposed additional staff which includes eight multi-tasking staff, eight LDC, two UDC, 12 APP, six PP, one head clerk and one deputy director. Government is yet to sanction these posts.
Shortage blamed for pendency of cases
PANAJI: Shortage of public prosecutors and other staff is one of the reasons for pendency of cases in Goa.
As per the figures placed in recent assembly session, there are around 13,776 cases pending in around 26 courts in the State for the last one year, of which 8,057 are criminal matters directly handled by Public Prosecutors and Assistant Public Prosecutors.