1. Petitioner is permitted to implead U.P. Sub-ordinate Service Selection Commission, Lucknow as one of the respondents forthwith.

2. Heard Sri Ashish Malhotra, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri M.C. Chaturvedi, learned Additional Advocate General assisted by Sri Pankaj Rai, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel, Sri Manoj Kumar Singh, learned Chief Standing Counsel and Sri Suresh Singh, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel representing the State- respondents.

3. Today, a personal affidavit of compliance of Mr. Manmeet Singh Suri, presently holding the post of Special Secretary (Law) and Additional Legal Remembrancer, Government of U.P. bringing on record the requisition sent to the U.P. Sub-ordinate Services Selection Commission, Lucknow (hereinafter referred to as 'Commission') for selection and recommendation as against vacant 50 postitions in the Establishment of Advocate General/State Law Officer both here at Allahabad and at Lucknow Bench in terms of the U.P. Advocate General and Law Officer Establishment Service (4th Amendment) Rules, 2022.

4. Upon a pointed query being made as to what has happened to the promotion upon the Level-VIII vacancies so as to get the exact numbers of the vacant positions of the post on which recruitment shall be made only after the recommendation of the Commission, learned Additional Advocate General submits regarding this there is no information currently available, however, very soon the exact details of the Level-VIII vacancies upon which deserving employees can be promoted, shall be brought on record. Let the needful be done by the next date so that the Government may be directed to make necessary promotions.

5. Upon a further pointed query as to whether the Commission has advertized the vacancies, learned Additional Advocate General submits that it lies within the domain of the Commission as per its own schedule.

6. We are seriously concerned with the present situation in the Establishment of the Advocate General-cum-State Law Officer for the reason that working of the Office has reduced to such a level that proper assistance is not being rendered to the Courts leading to delay in justice. Accordingly, we want that Commission should proceed to hold selection expeditiously against the vacancies on priority basis. Priority should be fixed over and above the other vacancies which may be in the que for the process of holding selections. Accordingly, we direct the petitioner to immediately implead the U.P. Sub-ordinate Services Selection Commission, Lucknow as one of the respondents and serve a notice upon the panel counsel of the said respondent, in the High Court, within next 24 hours. The Commission's counsel shall apprise the Court about the status of the recruitment process pursuant to the requisitions sent to the Commission on 20.03.2026.

7. Put up this matter on 17.04.2026 for further hearing.

8. Learned counsel for the State is directed to file an affidavit clarifying the positions of vacancies of Level-VIII upon which the promotions can be made in the Office of Establishment of Advocate General/State Law Officer.