Appointment in respect of Sh Dhruv Pande

## Policy Analysis Report: Appointment of Assisting Counsels for Special Public Prosecutors in Delhi **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi on May 5, 2025. This notification pertains to an *amendment* to existing policy regarding the appointment of legal professionals in criminal proceedings. Specifically, it details the appointment of three additional advocates as Assisting Counsels to support Special Public Prosecutors, along with their associated fee structure. The key findings are the formalization of these appointments and the specification of the payment schedule for their services. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide a detailed analysis of a government notification (F. No. 8952020/HPII/pt.fileI/282295) issued by the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi on May 5, 2025. This analysis is based solely on the information contained within the provided text. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Amendment:** This notification amends previous policies and notifications regarding the appointment of Special Public Prosecutors, specifically referencing notifications dated 24.06.2020, 30.07.2020, 26.07.2021, and 07.08.2023. * **Core Objective(s):** The primary objective, as inferred from the provided text, is to augment the support available to Special Public Prosecutors in ongoing cases by appointing additional Assisting Counsels and defining their remuneration. **4. Background and Rationale:** The notification suggests a need to bolster the legal support system for Special Public Prosecutors. The repeated issuance of notifications regarding Special Public Prosecutors and now Assisting Counsels suggests an ongoing effort to manage and optimize the prosecution process, possibly in response to increasing caseloads or the complexity of cases. This specific amendment likely aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the prosecution by providing Special Public Prosecutors with dedicated assistance. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This document represents an *amendment*. * **What specific part of the original policy is being changed (if discernible from the text):** The original policy involves the appointment and potentially the functioning of Special Public Prosecutors. This amendment adds a layer of support by appointing Assisting Counsels. * **What the *new* rule/provision *is*, based *only* on the amendment text:** * Appointment of three specific advocates (Sh. Dhruv Pande, Sh. Aarush Bhatia, and Sh. Ayodhya Prasad) as Assisting Counsels. * A defined fee structure for these Assisting Counsels, including: * Rs. 10,000 per hearing appearance. * Rs. 5,000 per conference. * Rs. 25,000 for drafting petitions, criminal revisions, etc. * Rs. 5,000 per application drafted. * Rs. 5,000 per reply to application drafted. * 10% clerkage charges on the full bill amount. * **Explain the *difference* or the *effect* of this specific change:** The change introduces formalized assistance for Special Public Prosecutors through designated Assisting Counsels and sets a clear and structured compensation model for their services. This ensures these additional legal professionals are available and that their compensation is standardized. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders are: * **The appointed Assisting Counsels:** Dhruv Pande, Aarush Bhatia, and Ayodhya Prasad, who are directly affected by their appointment and the specified fee structure. * **Special Public Prosecutors:** Who will receive support from the Assisting Counsels. * **Delhi Police:** As they proposed the fee structure. * **Government of NCT of Delhi:** Specifically the Home Department, as they are responsible for issuing the notification and managing the legal process. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies mentioned?** * The Home Department of the Government of NCT of Delhi is responsible for implementing the notification. * Delhi Police proposed the fee structure. * **Any timelines or procedures specified *in the text*?** No specific timelines are mentioned. The procedure seems to involve Delhi Police proposing a fee structure, and the Home Department formalizing the appointment and remuneration through a notification approved by the Lieutenant Governor. * **(If Amendment):** Implementation of the *changes* will involve integrating the Assisting Counsels into the workflow of the Special Public Prosecutors and processing payments according to the defined fee structure. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** * The likely intended outcome of these specific changes is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of legal proceedings by providing Special Public Prosecutors with additional support in the form of Assisting Counsels. This could lead to: * Faster case processing times. * Improved quality of legal representation. * Better allocation of resources. **9. Conclusion:** The notification issued on May 5, 2025, by the Government of NCT of Delhi, represents an amendment to existing policy by appointing three Assisting Counsels to support Special Public Prosecutors and defining their fee structure. This move aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the prosecution process within the National Capital Territory of Delhi. This formalized assistance has the potential to significantly impact the legal landscape and the administration of justice in Delhi.

Key Entities Referenced