‘Incompetent’ prosecutors may face axe

Incompetent public prosecutors will not be tolerated. That was the observation made by the Bombay High Court on Monday while issuing a notice to the Directorate of Public Prosecutors.

Incompetent public prosecutors will not be tolerated. That was the observation made by the Bombay High Court on Monday while issuing a notice to the Directorate of Public Prosecutors.

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The judges were irked that incompetent prosecutors had been hired. Public Prosecutor Pandurang Pol told the court there was a delay in filing appeals against the lower court’s orders, due to lack of good, experienced prosecutors.

The court was hearing an application filed by the government, seeking condoning of a delay in filing an appeal against bail given by the special Pota court to an accused in Mulund blast in May. An appeal against lower court’s order has to be filed within 30 days, but here it was filed after a delay of 116 days.

Pol said that earlier this year, the government had not continued with some prosecutors and new ones were appointed.
“These new prosecutors do not have experience. So we cannot give them sensitive matters immediately,” said Pol. “This
delays filing of appeals against orders under special acts.”

“If they are not competent, why should they not be removed?” asked Patel. “These people are appointed to argue on behalf of the government. If they are not competent, public money is wasted on them.”

The court has asked the directorate to file a report by December 15.