With an avowed aim to bring down pendency of Government litigations in the courts, the State Cabinet accorded sanction to the State Litigation Policy in August 2011 which, inter alia, was with an aim to save time, energy, cost and labour, managing and conducting litigations in a scientific, cohesive and coordinated way in order to register winning of good and solid cases and those ones with weak basis not unnecessarily followed up. Such a policy is primarily meant to be percolated down to the grass root level in order to slice down quantum of Government litigations in the courts. To achieve this objective, the Government had to appoint District Litigation Officers as being central to the successful implementation of the Litigation Policy.
It seems prosaic but equally contrary to the expectations that the Government has seemingly acted in a half-hearted approach by not doing anything worthwhile on the ground, for the last two years towards the implementation of the policy. What is the purpose of formulating policies without setting in motion, the requisite factor endowments for their working, is what the point is at issue. The Government while formulating the policy under reference, had all the consultations and cooperation with Home, General Administration and Finance Departments. It is worth noting that the purpose of framing the Litigation Policy was in consonance with the National Litigation Policy in order to get the financial assistance earmarked by the 13th Finance Commission for the State. This financial support was to be utilized for reducing the level of pendency of the litigation in the courts. This would have been in its own stead, an act of innovation laced with reducing the pressure on the cost of litigations, keeping in view the resources constraints faced by the State. Why has then, the State Government treated the matter with casual approach and not virtually honoured its own order vide which the Government had to appoint District Litigation Officers of the rank of Under Secretary to translate the crux of the policy in real terms of working on gross root level.
The importance of appointment of the Litigation Officers can be seen in their attending to and disposing of the litigations against the State in districts which otherwise go unnoticed, as at times, they are fraught with heavy financial implications. They can also prove as a bridge between, and have a close liaison with nodal officers posted by the Administrative Departments for their offices besides getting day-to-day information of state litigation in districts and tehsils. Is the impasse for appointments of the Litigation Officers there because of non acquiesce from the Finance Department with whom, at the time of framing of the policy, necessary consultations were held and due cooperation sought? The need of the hour is to steer clear from the hazy situation as the matter assumes added importance and sensitivity because of the spurt in the litigation cases against the State. It is high time the important link in implementation of the Litigation Policy is found out and addressed suitably, now without any ado.
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