The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a slew of directions to facilitate the public prosecutors working in the national capital, including the creation of digital libraries and providing requisite office space as well as dress allowance to all PPs working in Delhi.
The Division Bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Manoj Jain ordered the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi to create digital library for PPs in each district of Delhi.
The government was directed to ensure that the e-library was equipped with the requisite number of computer systems, printers, hi-speed broadband and other related infrastructure, along with subscription of prominent e-journals and e-legal software.
The Principal District & Sessions Judges of all districts in Delhi were directed to provide requisite office space to the Public Prosecutors posted in their respective districts.
The High Court said the space for office and creating e-library should be identified and approval be sought from the respective Building Maintenance & Construction Committee (BMCC), High Court of Delhi.
The Bench passed the order, while disposing of a suo motu case registered in 2017 for the digitisation of records of the office of Standing Counsel (criminal) and the Directorate of Prosecution, as also for streamlining the process of filing appeals.
The High Court, while considering the adequate infrastructural requirements for the prosecutors, noted that as on date, the PPs were getting Rs 80,000 for purchasing of laptop and tablet, a sufficient amount to enable them for doing their office work with the help of these technological devices.
However, the prescribed life of such technological devices should be the same four years instead of five years, as has been prescribed for Executive and Judicial Officers, it added.
The Bench directed the GNCTD to issue an Office Memorandum in this regard within six weeks, noting that the amount of Rs 80,000 would be exclusive of the Goods & Service Tax (GST).
The High Court further ordered that Public Prosecutors should be given dress allowance of Rs 10,000 per annum.
It ordered that the prosecutors would follow the calendar prescribed for Delhi district courts, as approved and notified by the High Court.
Regarding summer vacations, the High Court directed that the calendar meant for GNCTD would be applicable to the PPs till the Delhi government took a call on whether the Prosecution Department could be treated as a Vacation Department or not and whether during the said period, any other duty could be assigned to these prosecutors or making provision of any other suitable arrangement.
The GNCTD was given eight-week time to decide on the issue.
The High Court ordered that the Delhi government should consider the request of PPs while keeping in mind the fact that similar provisions have been made for their colleagues serving in other agencies.
Since the judicial officers were also prone to such threats, the Delhi government should consider either granting them allowance or making an alternate arrangement like providing PSO, noted the Bench, giving eight weeks for the Delhi government to decide on the matter.
It further ordered the PPs to be given camp office allowance of Rs 1.25 lakh once in every five years.
The High Court had directed the Delhi government in February 2018 to take up on a priority basis, the task of computerisation by providing the Directorate of Prosecution with sufficient equipment and qualified technical personnel.