HC asks Maharashtra to appoint protection officers in 6 months

The Bombay HC on Friday directed the Maharashtra government to recruit within six months full-time protection officers for each teshil, as required under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

The Bombay high court on Friday directed the Maharashtra government to recruit within six months full-time protection officers for each teshil, as required under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

A division bench headed by justice Abhay Oka said the protection officers play a very important role in assisting the aggrieved women.

Advocate general Sunil Manohar submitted that the woman and child development department has created 142 more posts of protection officers, in addition to the existing 216.

Appointment letters have been issued to 105 candidates so far, he said, noting that recruitment of 65 candidates was in the last phase and the government has earmarked 45 seats for Maratha and Muslim candidates which will be filled soon.

The AG said that the filling up the newly created 142 posts will take about six months and during the same period, 358 multi-purpose employees and assistants to the protection officers will also be recruited.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Rajendra Anbhule, which has contended that protection officers have not been appointed in many districts.