Government reply to be sought on email, WhatsApp
LUCKNOW: To ensure speedy trial in cases related with bail and other criminal matters in Lucknow high court, the office of the additional advocate general has issued directives to seek reply from the state government on email and WhatsApp numbers of government lawyers.
This initiative is to ensure that criminal matters do not get delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic. Additional advocate general, Uttar Pradesh government, Vinod Kumar Shahi has written a letter to director general (prosecution) informing that e-notices of all cases related with bail and other criminal matters will be uploaded on official website of the directorate of prosecution.
This will ensure that the office of DG (prosecution) gets all details of the case from inspector, station house officer or investigating officer concerned along with their names, CUG and WhatsApp
numbers and make it available to the office of government advocate on e-mail. “In cases of bail and other criminal matters, reply from the government will be sought on email and even WhatsApp numbers of government lawyers. This will ensure that there is effective and timely prosecution in criminal matters by the state government,” said Vinod Kumar Shahi, additional advocate general. “Due to Covid-19 pandemic, appearance of lawyers in courts for hearing of cases is also going on through video conferencing. Therefore, reply on emails and WhatsApp numbers will be very helpful in such a scenario,” added Shahi.
GOVT LAWYERS TO GET REPORT ON EMAIL, WHATSAPP NOS
The office of additional advocate general has also issued directives to all government lawyers (criminal cases) of the high court to get investigation report from investigating officer on official email of the government advocate’s office or their WhatsApp numbers to avoid delay.
EMAIL ID OF GOVT LAWYERS SOUGHT
Shahi has also issued directives to all government lawyers (criminal cases) of the high court to submit their email ID having their names and advocate on record number on the official mail of the office of government advocate within three days. This will help in searching of mails conveniently. It may be pointed out that due to Covid-19 pandemic, the Lucknow HC administration has allowed hearing of cases through video conferencing. The HC administration has also made it mandatory for lawyers aged 65 years and above to appear before the court via video link.