Maharashtra to train government pleaders in litigation management

Often under ire from the Bombay High Court for not filing replies on time, the state government is holding a special orientation programme with government pleaders — litigation management — to help them tackle the issue more efficiently.

The programme aims at teaching lawyers the functioning of government set-ups and make them aware of the constraints of the government system so that they do not waste time meeting the wrong people for the required information. This programme is the first of its kind and is designed specifically for this purpose, said a government official.

"Government pleaders must know who should be contacted for specific information and what exactly to expect. It is important for them to know that a government set-up does not work like a routine client, where all the information is provided to you on a platter," said a senior government official.

The orientation programme, scheduled to take place in Mumbai on February 13, is being addressed by the state advocate general and the law secretary himself. Sessions for government pleaders working with the Aurangabad and Nagpur benches were held on January 30 and 26, respectively.

In April 2015, following directions from the Bombay High Court, the law department had issued a general resolution, directing appointment of nodal/law officers in all administrative departments of Mantralaya. These officers were to be made responsible for ensuring that the state departments attend court hearings pertaining to them without any delay.

Sources claimed that while most departments have appointed these nodal officers, the situation has not improved much as the same has come as an additional charge to most officers already burdened with other charges.

As per the GR, the nodal officer appointed should not be below the rank of undersecretary. "The nodal/law officer to be appointed shall be a law graduate with a minimum experience of three years of handling court matters in the high court and subordinate courts," read the GR issued on April 8, 2015.

It also said all legal matters of a department should be routed through the officer, including matters that need to be referred to the law and judiciary department, for its opinion. "The nodal/law officer shall be responsible for active case management. He shall constantly manage the cases pending before the court and also examine whether the cases are on the right track or have been unnecessarily delayed. He will act as an effective and efficient connecting link between the department and the government advocate to speed up the process and achieve the desired result," read the GR.