Chidambaram favours separation of investigation, prosecution

NEW DELHI: Home Minister P Chidambaram strongly advocated separation of investigation and prosecution by amending the criminal justice system for speedy delivery of justice.

Addressing a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Home Ministry, he said expeditious trial of cases has to be ensured by making necessary changes in procedure and a proposal to this effect has been sent to state governments for their approval.

"States must create a separate investigation cadre. Separate prosecution cadre is also required," he said at the meeting on 'Investigation, Prosecution and Trial' here.

The Home Minister said the Committee on Reforms of the Criminal Justice System, constituted under the Chairmanship of Justice V Malimath considered measures for revamping criminal justice system.

The Committee gave recommendations on various aspects of criminal justice system including investigation, prosecution and the trial procedure in its report submitted in March,2003.

Chidambaram said since the Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure are on the Concurrent List of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution and are administered by state governments, any amendment to these requires consultation with states.

"In view of this, the report was forwarded to the state governments and Union Territories Administrations to obtain their views or comments," he said.

The step assumes significance as non-Congress state governments have strongly opposed Centre's plans to set up NCTC saying it was being done without consulting them.