Delhi HC Orders Digital Library Setup for Public Prosecutors Across Districts

The Delhi High Court has mandated the city Government to establish a digital library for public prosecutors in each district of the national capital, emphasizing the need to adapt to technological advancements.

A bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain directed the Principal District & Sessions Judges of all districts to allocate the necessary office space to the Public Prosecutors in their respective districts.

The high court specified that the e-library should be equipped with an adequate number of computer systems, printers, high-speed broadband, and other essential infrastructure, along with subscriptions to prominent e-journals and e-legal software. This directive is part of a suo moto case initiated in 2017 aimed at the digitization of records for the office of Standing Counsel (criminal) and the Directorate of Prosecution, as well as streamlining the appeal filing process. The court has been addressing the need for improved infrastructure for prosecutors.

The bench noted that Public Prosecutors currently receive Rs. 80,000 for purchasing laptops and tablets, which is deemed sufficient for their office work with these technological devices. However, it was recommended that the prescribed lifespan of such devices should be four years, as opposed to the five years designated for Executive and Judicial Officers.

Additionally, the bench directed that Public Prosecutors be provided with an annual dress allowance of Rs. 10,000. The prosecutors are also to adhere to the calendar set for Delhi District Courts, as approved and notified by the High Court.

Further directives include:

• For summer vacations in June, the calendar for GNCTD will apply until the GNCTD decides whether the Prosecution Department should be treated as a Vacation Department or if alternative duties or arrangements are necessary. The GNCTD is to make a decision on this matter within eight weeks.
• GNCTD should consider the requests of Public Prosecutors, keeping in mind that similar provisions are available for their counterparts in other agencies.
• The GNCTD should also evaluate whether judicial officers, who face similar threats, should receive allowances or alternative arrangements such as PSO (Personal Security Officers). A decision on this should be made within eight weeks.
• Public Prosecutors are entitled to a camp office allowance of Rs. 1.25 lakhs, to be granted once every five years.

The court, in February 2018, had instructed that the computerization task be prioritized by the Delhi Government, including providing the Directorate of Prosecution with adequate equipment and qualified technical personnel to fully computerize its operations.

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