New Delhi, Oct. 28 -- The Delhi High Court has stayed a trial court's direction to recover Rs 5,000 in costs from the salary of Delhi's Director of Prosecution, Maqsood Ahmed, observing that imposing personal financial liability in the absence of any specific finding of malfeasance or misfeasance would prima facie not be proper.

At the same time, the High Court expressed concern over the continuing shortage of public prosecutors in Delhi, observing that the problem had become "perennial" and was severely affecting the disposal of criminal trials and bail matters.

Justice Girish Kathpalia passed the interim order on October 27 while hearing Ahmed's challenge to an October 6 order of an Additional Sessions Judge at Tis Hazari Courts, whic...