JAIPUR — Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Saturday announced an increase in retainership, appearance, drafting, and opinion fees for law officers representing the state government in the High Court. The initiative aims to fortify the state's legal framework and enhance public trust in the judicial process.

Addressing an interactive session with public prosecutors and law officers at his official residence, CM Sharma emphasized that an efficient law-and-order system forms the cornerstone of effective governance.

Key Administrative and Structural Upgrades

To streamline case monitoring and maintain ongoing dialogue, the Chief Minister announced that Additional Advocates General will now be assigned divisional-level responsibilities. This step is designed to facilitate regular interaction with ground-level law officers and resolve operational bottlenecks swiftly.

The state government has also enacted significant structural expansions across Rajasthan’s judicial infrastructure:

  • High Court Appointments: Appointment of 10 Additional Advocates General, 9 Additional Government Counsels, and 2 Special Public Prosecutors.

  • New Judicial Bodies: Establishment of 14 District and Sessions Courts, 2 Additional District Courts, 8 CJM Courts, and 8 ACJM Courts. Specialized courts have also been set up for POCSO, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), NDPS, Negotiable Instruments Act, and commercial disputes.

  • Staffing Expansion: Creation of 40 new ministerial posts for offices of Additional Advocates General, along with 76 new posts for Public Prosecutors and 109 subordinate staff roles.

Focus on Pending Litigation and Legal Literacy

CM Sharma raised concerns regarding prolonged court pendency, noting that delayed litigation inflates project costs and stalls vital state development. He directed government departments and district collectors to compile categorized lists of pending public-interest litigation and set up rigorous monitoring protocols to expedite resolutions.

Highlighting the state's ongoing legal welfare measures, Sharma shared key achievements:

  • Legal Aid Assistance: Over 27,251 individuals provided legal aid under the Prisoner and Child Protection Scheme.

  • Victim Compensation: ₹84.53 crore disbursed to 3,905 beneficiaries under the Rajasthan Victim Compensation Scheme.

  • Legal Awareness: 1.20 lakh legal literacy camps organized statewide, benefiting more than 76.67 lakh residents.

Law and Legal Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, who was also present at the meeting, reiterated the ministry's commitment to improving departmental coordination and supporting legal professionals with modern infrastructure, including computer facilities and administrative backing.