Address shortage & working of prosecutors: Court to Delhi government

NEW DELHI: A court here has directed Delhi government to address the issues of shortage of Public Prosecutors and their failure to work freely and independently, saying it is causing delay in delivery of justice.

The court also noted that "the Public Prosecutors work under fear of their seniors as they apprehend issuance of show cause notice in case they fail to get favourable order of the court."

Additional Sessions Judge Savita Rao asked the Director of Prosecution and the Principal Secretary (Home), Delhi government, to address these issues within a month under the intimation of the court.

Earlier, in March, the court had passed similar directions miffed with witnesses being sent back without being examined due to absence of regular Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) appointed in the court.

Every court has a regular prosecutor, a government official who prosecutes criminal actions in the given court on behalf of the state.

This time around, the court passed the order after four prosecution witnesses in a robbery and dacoity case were sent back without being examined on two hearings due to absence of the regular APP of the court.

In three other criminal matters, witnesses were sent back as a substitute APP, appearing before it in the absence of a regular prosecutor, refused to examine the witnesses stating that it would be appropriate if the regular APP examines them.

The court said "it has been noted that whenever regular APP is on leave, some of the substitute APPs appointed in the courts do not wish to do the substantial work in the court."