Incomplete Records Being Furnished To Amicus Curiae & Other Counsels: Supreme Court Issues Directions To Ensure Qualitative Legal Aid

Taking note of the problem of incomplete records being furnished to counsel from the panel of Amicus Curiae or those engaged by the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, the Supreme Court on Friday was impelled to issue a string of directions to ensure good and qualitative assistance in legal aid matters. "We have generally observed similar situations of incomplete record being furnished to the learned counsel from the panel of Amicus Curiae or those engaged by the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, which impels us to issue directions to ensure good and qualitative assistance in legal aid matters", observed the bench, issuing the following directions: As and when any legal assistance either through the panel of Amicus Curiae maintained by the Registry of this Court or through the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee is sought for, complete record of the case in digital form must be sent by the State Legal Services Authority or the High Court Legal Services Committee. Further, the concerned State Legal Services Authority or the High Court Legal Services Committee must also share other relevant material and documents such as Custody Certificate disclosing the length of custody undergone by the accused. The State Legal Services Authority or the High Court Legal Services Committee must thus ensure that the entire material including the record and documents as stated above are shared with the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee or the Amicus Curiae Cell in the Registry of this Court so that adequate representation on behalf of the concerned accused is facilitated. Whenever any matters are received from the State Legal Services Authority or the High Court Legal Services Committee, the Amicus Curiae Cell in the Registry of this Court or the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee must ensure that the digital version of the record is shared with the concerned counsel.