MUMBAI, Oct. 7 -- The Bombay High Court on Monday rapped the state government for failing to comply with its 2014 order mandating the appointment of taluka-level protection officers under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (DV Act). The division bench of justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh Patil issued contempt notices to the principal secretaries of the finance and the women and child development departments, asking them to explain how the state's failure to comply with judicial directions did not amount to wilful disobedience. The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 2011 by advocate Rajendra Dattatraya Anbhule, regarding large-scale vacancies and lack of implementation of the DV Act. In April 2014, a bench of justices Abhay Oka and Amjed Sayeed had directed the government to fill 216 posts by June 30, 2014, and to create protection officer posts for all 361 talukas in the state within six months. On Monday, the state government, represented by advocate Chandurkar, told the bench that of the 358 protection officer positions created across Maharashtra, 284 had been filled. "Balance 74 posts were left and 57 posts were approved by the finance department and advertised, leaving 17 posts to be approved by the finance department," Chandurkar submitted. But the bench appeared unimpressed. "In 2015, you had called for applicants and taken exams. This matter has been pending since then. What have you done? 358 posts were to be filled in, how many are still vacant," justice Dere asked. When the state cited procedural hurdles and documentation delays, the court lashed out at what it described as a pattern of bureaucratic excuses....