In an effort to bring in a procedure of accountability for its standing counsels, the Union law ministry has decided to carry out a regular appraisal of these law officers. The idea of a regular appraisal was mooted by Union law and justice minister Dr M. Veerappa Moily as a part of the UPA government’s attempts to strengthen the litigation section of the government. “The ministry is currently working on the appraisal method and the procedures to be followed,” sources stated.
Official sources stated that the decision was taken after it was found that on several occasions, the government remained ill informed of court notices with counsels failing to take appropriate steps.
It was also pointed out that on several occasions the government had not been informed about court directives or decisions on important issues.
The decision will affect over a hundred law officers and standing counsels who give their opinion to the government and represent the government in various courts across the country.
The move is part of the National Litigation Policy announced by the government earlier this year.
The policy is based on the recognition that government and its various agencies are the pre-dominant litigants in courts and tribunals in the country and aims is to transform government into an “efficient and responsible litigant.”