60 Per Cent Vacancy Rate, Overworked Staff While Recruitees Wait 7 Months For Appointment Letter: TNLSA In Shambles

Vacancies have slowly been on the rise in the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority (TNSLSA) across the state over the past few years. The existing staff are overworked while paralegal volunteers are the saving light at many taluks, reports The New Indian Express.

An estimated 150 junior administrative staff recruited seven months ago are still waiting for their appointment orders. It was also found that 60 per cent of the vacancies in TNSLSA have not been filled, while officials say that the rate is hovering at 70-75 per cent, according to a report published in 2016 by the Madras High Court. The main reason is voluntary retirement due to lack of manpower.

Officials from the TNSLSA say that while each taluk in the state is required to have a junior administrative assistant , only paid paralegal volunteers are present.

The Legal Services Act, 1987 was established to provide competent and free legal services to the weaker sections to help them secure justice and organise Lok Adalats. The entire mission is, however, crippled due to the lack of staff, said sources.

The number of people who benefit through TNSLSA stands at an estimated 44,721 in 2017, while it was 44,702 in 2016 and 58,372 in 2015, according to annual reports published by the Madras High Court.

Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh during his tenure had ordered t the principal district judge to fill up vacancies of the Junior Administrative Assistants in all taluks.