Pune: The Joint Charity Commissioner’s Office in Pune has been grappling with operational delays as two Assistant Charity Commissioner positions have remained vacant for over two years. This has stalled the approval of Change Reports for many public trusts, causing significant disruptions in their administrative functions.
The Pune division of the Charity Commissionerate regulates over 75,000 registered public trusts, including schools, sports clubs, residential associations, public libraries, and various NGOs, across Pune, Satara, Ahmednagar, and Solapur districts.
The office, which functions under one Joint Charity Commissioner, is structured to have two Deputy Commissioners and four Assistant Charity Commissioners. However, the prolonged vacancies have left the office functioning with only one Deputy Commissioner and two Assistant Charity Commissioners.
The Assistant Charity Commissioners are responsible for registering trusts, approving changes in trustee boards, auditing financial reports, and making amendments to trust rules when necessary. However, the lack of personnel has led to delays in processing Change Reports and other essential tasks, directly affecting the functioning of these trusts.
The issue is compounded by a shortage of supporting staff, including stenographers and clerks. Established in 1972, the Pune division office has been struggling with workforce inadequacies since its inception.
Advocate Shivraj Kadam-Jahagirdar, Former President of the Public Trust Practitioners Association, Pune, highlighted the challenges, stating, “The existing Assistant Charity Commissioners are already managing substantial workloads. The vacant positions have further increased their burden, directly impacting the efficiency of the office and causing hardships for public trusts.”
Residents and trust representatives are urging authorities to expedite the appointment process to alleviate the situation.
