Finalize Proposal On Establishing Specialized Training Academy For Public Prosecutors Within Four Weeks: High Court To Delhi Govt

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to finalize within four weeks its proposal regarding the establishment of a specialised training academy for public prosecutors.

A division bench of then Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma (now elevated to the Supreme Court) and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said that the public prosecutors shoulder weighty responsibilities in the discharge of their duties and directed the Delhi Government to file an affidavit outlining the steps taken by it.

The bench was hearing a bunch of petitions, including a suo moto case registered in 2009 after a letter petition was moved highlighting the issue of undertrials languishing in jail from 5 to 12 years without a trial.

Delhi Government’s counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi told court that the newly appointed Public Prosecutors have been provided with adequate training at the Delhi Judicial Academy and that a proposal for a specialised academy is pending consideration with the government.

Amicus curiae Senior Advocate Rajeev K Virmani submitted that the training was provided by the Delhi Government on an ad hoc basis. He further reiterated the need for a structured training programme for the newly appointed Public Prosecutors.

“Accordingly, the GNCTD is directed to finalise its proposal qua the establishment of a specialised training academy for public prosecutor(s) within 4 weeks’ form today i.e., 01.011.2023; and file an affidavit outlining the steps taken in furtherance of the same before the next date of hearing,” the court said while listing the matter on December 06.

In September, the bench had directed the Delhi Government to conduct training of the newly recruited public prosecutors in coordination with Delhi Judicial Academy.

It had also directed the Delhi Government to file a status report regarding the conduct of training programmes and also the latest position of vacancies in respect of public prosecutors.

Case Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. State and other connected matters

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 1109

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