Rajasthan High Court forms panel for improving conditions at Government Advocate office

Rajasthan High Court forms committee to address deficiencies at Government Advocate office, improve efficiency and security by May 20.

The Rajasthan High Court has constituted a committee comprising five lawyers to examine the prevailing deficiencies and structural requirements at the office of the Government Advocate (GA) and recommend measures for improvement. The panel will submit its report to the high court by May 20.

A Single Judge Bench of Justice Farzand Ali at the high court’s principal seat in Jodhpur observed that the public prosecutors were facing difficulties in their work of criminal litigation. “A particularly alarming concern arises with respect to the handling of case diaries received from police stations, as the risk of being stolen or tampered with poses a serious threat,” the court said.

The order was passed recently during the hearing of a petition seeking quashing of a first information report of 2011 in a case of causing hurt and wrongful restraint. The court said that some comprehensive administrative reforms were required to improve the functioning of the GA office.

Three of the lawyers appointed to the committee are from Jodhpur and two from Jaipur, where the high court’s Bench is situated. Justice Ali said there was a shortage of ministerial staff, lack of infrastructure, and inadequate remuneration to the State law officers, which often resulted in the procedural delays, affecting the dispensation of justice.

“The exponential increase in the case load and the growing complexity of criminal litigation makes it imperative that an inspector-level police officer is posted with a structured communication mechanism to inform the police authorities of the court’s directions,” the 12-page order stated.

Referring to the security concerns for Government Advocates arising from criminal litigation, the court said a security apparatus must be put in place at the GA office and a dedicated floor in the building earmarked for the security personnel with the deployment of at least six armed constables.

The committee will make an assessment of the existing framework and recommend appropriate measures for capacity enhancement, administrative reforms and infrastructural improvements at the GA office.