The Delhi High Court in the case Court on Its Own Motion v. State observed and has directed the Delhi Government to conduct training of the newly recruited public prosecutors in coordination with Delhi Judicial Academy.
The Division bench comprising of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula in the case observed that the distinct role played by the Public Prosecutors, it needs to be ensured that the new appointees are adequately being equipped to shoulder the weighty responsibilities the post carries.
The court in the case observed and has directed the Delhi Government for filing the status report with regards to the conduct of training programmes and also the latest position of vacancies in respect of public prosecutors.
The court stated that though 60 public prosecutors have been recently appointed in the national capital, thus, no training was imparted to them.
In the present case, the court was hearing the bunch of pleas which includes the suo moto case initiated by the Court in the year 2009 after a letter petition was moved wherein it highlighted the issue of undertrials languishing in jail from 5 to 12 years without a trial.
The counsel, amicus curiae Senior Advocate Rajeev K Virmani in the case observed and has highlighted the lack of training programme for the Public Prosecutors.
The court in the case observed that the post of Public Prosecutor is an integral part of criminal court system. Adding to it, the court stated that such officer is positioned as a representative of the sovereign, whose interest is not to secure a conviction but rather to facilitate the administration of justice.
The counsel, ASG Chetan Sharma appearing for Union Government informed the court that the issue of revision of pay scales of Assistant Public Prosecutors is under active consideration of Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Further, it has been stated by him that the Union Government in August had requested Delhi Government’s Chief Secretary to provide the total financial implication for the revision of pay scales of Assistant Public Prosecutors who are working under the Directorate of Prosecution.
Before the court, the Delhi Government prayed for the two weeks’ time in order to respond to the submission made by the Union Government.
The court while considering the facts and circumstances of the case observed and has granted four weeks’ time to the Central Government to take final decision in the matter. Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further consideration on November 01, 2023.