Kolkata, July 3 (IANS) A thorough overhaul of the state government panel of ‘government pleaders’ and ‘public prosecutors’ in West Bengal is likely to take place as the Suvendu Adhikari-led government is keen on reducing dependence on hiring high-profile legal practitioners from outside, which involves huge costs to the state exchequer.

The Chief Minister on Thursday indicated during a meeting with the members of the current legal panel that an overhaul of the current state panel of government pleaders and public prosecutors will be undertaken, said a member of the panel on condition of anonymity.

“The Chief Minister gave clear instructions that the panel of government pleaders and public prosecutors both at the Calcutta High Court and in the lower courts should be more active in judiciously pursuing and arguing the cases so that the state government can gradually reduce the dependence on hiring high-profile legal professionals from outside, which involves a huge drain on the state exchequer,” said the state government panel advocate.

Thereafter, the advocate added that the Chief Minister called for mooting an initiative to identify the weak areas in the current state government panel of government pleaders and public prosecutors and, if necessary, opt to overhaul them.

A public prosecutor present at the meeting said the Chief Minister pointed out that during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led and Trinamool Congress-ruled regime, the hiring of high-end legal professionals from outside became a regular affair, since most of the cases, which were argued by the government panel advocates, resulted in humiliating defeats for the state government.

“The Chief Minister specially stressed strengthening the panel of advocates representing the state government at the Calcutta High Court. He also cautioned about frequent complaints that government pleaders and public prosecutors were not receiving adequate support from the police or other government officials in various departments while arguing cases on behalf of the state government. He assured us that he will give strict instructions to all state government departments to extend all necessary support to the panel of advocates regarding the prompt availability of appropriate documents or information required for such cases. He also advised us to directly contact his office in case of non-cooperation from any department in such matters,” the public prosecutors present at the meeting said.

–IANS

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