Home dept nod must to appeal in criminal cases

Panaji: The director of prosecution will have to obtain approval from home department for filing appeals in criminal cases before the district and sessions court, the high court and the Supreme Court against any judgment, following the directives of state govt.

“The director of prosecution shall take the necessary steps for seeking approval from the home department in filing of appeals or revisions, after receiving a request from a distirct superintendent of police through an investigating officer on the opinion or recommendation of a prosecuting officer,” undersecretary (home-II) Manthan Naik said.

State govt has specified other powers and functions of the director of prosecution, deputy director of prosecution and assistant director of prosecution.

Naik said that the director of prosecution shall conduct monthly and quarterly review meetings as and when required with the deputies and assistants.

The director of prosecution shall be vested with administrative powers as required under any other law for effective administration of the criminal justice system.

The deputy director of prosecution shall attend all meetings, including acquittal review meetings convened by the home minister, home department, commissioner of police, deputy inspector general, superintendent of police/deputy superintendent of police, etc.

The deputy director of prosecution will be the reporting officer in the case of annual confidential reports of the public prosecutor of the district concerned.

Govt also established the district directorate of prosecution for both the districts with immediate effect.