<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court — India's apex judicial body responsible for interpreting the Constitution and ensuring justice (GS2: Polity)">Supreme Court</span> has highlighted a chronic shortage of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Public prosecutor — a legal officer who represents the state in criminal trials, responsible for presenting evidence and ensuring prosecution (GS2: Polity)">public prosecutors</span> as a chief cause of delays in criminal trials. In a recent hearing, the bench urged state governments to appoint at least one prosecutor for every courtroom of a <span class="key-term" data-definition="Sessions Court — a district‑level court that tries serious criminal cases and can impose imprisonment of up to 14 years (GS2: Polity)">sessions court</span> hall.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan granted bail to an accused under the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — legislation that criminalises drug trafficking and possession, with stringent penalties (GS3: Law & Order)">NDPS Act</span>, noting a three‑year pre‑trial detention.</li>
<li>The bench linked the bail decision to the "inevitable delay" caused by the lack of dedicated prosecutors.</li>
<li>Both judges criticised the practice of prosecutors travelling from other districts and appearing only on limited days.</li>
<li>They called on state authorities, the Law Minister, Advocate Generals and Directors of Prosecution to fill vacant prosecutor posts immediately.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<ul>
<li>The accused, <strong>Dolubhai Vihabhai Gohil</strong>, was arrested on <strong>4 March 2023</strong> for alleged offences under Sections 8(b), 8(c) and 18(c) of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="NDPS Act — legislation that criminalises drug trafficking and possession, with stringent penalties (GS3: Law & Order)">NDPS Act</span>, which carry a maximum punishment of ten years.</li>
<li>He spent <strong>three years and two months</strong> in custody before the Supreme Court intervened.</li>
<li>The prosecution had listed 46 witnesses, but only six had been examined, indicating a likely prolonged trial.</li>
<li>Justice Nagarathna emphasized that even a well‑prepared trial schedule collapses without a resident prosecutor.</li>
<li>Justice Bhuyan noted that many states lack budgetary allocation for constructing new courts, compounding the problem.</li>
</ul>
<h3>UPSC Relevance</h3>
<p>The issue touches upon several GS topics. The shortage of prosecutors reflects administrative inefficiency in the justice system (GS2: Polity). It also raises questions about the implementation of criminal law reforms and the role of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Directorate of Prosecution — the state agency that recruits, trains and manages public prosecutors (GS2: Polity)">Directorate of Prosecution</span> in staffing courts. U
Loading page, please wait…