Infrastructure For Prosecutors: High Court Summons Delhi Govt's Home & Law Secretaries Over Unsatisfactory Response

Dealing with a suo motu petition concerning public prosecutors in the national capital, the High Court on Thursday asked Delhi Government's Home Secretary and Law Secretary to remain present on the next date of hearing.

A division bench of Justice Mukta Gupta and Justice Poonam A. Bamba was hearing a suo moto case registered in 2017 for digitization of records of the office of Standing Counsel (criminal) and Directorate of Prosecution and also for streamlining the process of filing appeals. The court has been considering the issue of adequate infrastructural requirements for the prosecutors.

The bench on September 26 had sought a report from Delhi Government's Principal Secretary (Home) on the action taken in response to the representations given by the prosecutors.

Noting that the report has been submitted under the signature of the Directorate of Prosecution and not Principal Secretary (Home), the bench said that the answers of the department "appear to be evasive."

The court noted that in respect of office space and office infrastructure for prosecutors, the Home department has stated that no action was required at its end and that a letter has been written to the High Court's Registrar General to look into the issue of adequate space for the prosecuting officers.

It also noted that regarding the proposal to reimburse the amount for purchasing technical devices, the report states that previous bids were cancelled and that a fresh bid has now been floated on November 9.

The bench observed that the report does not reveal anything about the outcome of the bid and when the decision to call for fresh bid was taken.

"As regards the request of the prosecutors for subscription of law journals, again, a proposal has been sent to the Home Department. However, no reply has been received," the court said.

Accordingly, the bench ordered: "Considering the stand taken, the Principal Secretary of Home, GNCTD and Principal Secretary of Law, GNCTD are requested to remain present in court on the next date of hearing."

The matter will now be heard on January 12, 2023.

In February 2018, the court had directed that the task of computerization should be taken up by the Delhi Government "on a priority basis" by providing the Directorate of Prosecution with sufficient number of equipments, qualified technical personnel so that its entire operations can be computerized.

Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. STATE