News Brief
Centre Issues SOP To Streamline Litigation And Curb Unnecessary Government Lawsuits
Representative image of a gavel and law books
The Union Law Ministry has issued new guidelines to central ministries and departments to streamline and expedite government-related litigation.
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aims to reduce avoidable litigation and improve coordination across departments handling legal cases.
The SOP is formally titled 'Directive for the Efficient and Effective Management of Litigation by Government of India'.
According to a report by Bar and Bench, the directive sets up a coordinated litigation framework for government bodies, aligning with the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Ministries must classify cases by sensitivity, with highly sensitive ones, like those involving policy or national security - should be reviewed at the secretary level.
Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) to the Supreme Court should be filed only in exceptional situations, such as when substantial injustice or major policy issues are involved.
Panel counsels must be selected based on expertise, and their performance will be periodically reviewed using ministry feedback.
Mediation and arbitration are to be promoted for resolution of disputes, with institutional mechanisms preferred over ad hoc ones.
Drafts of major laws or policies must undergo litigation-risk assessment to reduce potential future legal challenges. Ministries should also review subordinate legislation periodically to eliminate ambiguities.
Key legal directives should be compiled into master circulars and displayed on the website of the respective ministries.
The LIMBS portal must be regularly updated for tracking and fee processing.
Ministries may challenge court rulings that contradict policy without prior approval.
Amnesty schemes may be launched to settle minor regulatory disputes through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms.
