Directorate of Prosecution

              A public prosecutor is considered as the agent of the state to represent the interest of common people in the criminal justice system.The key purpose of the Directorate of Prosecution is to monitor and to streamline the process of conducting prosecution on behalf of the State before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Courts, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Courts, Judicial First Class Magistrate Courts, Gram Nyayalaya, Juvenile Justice Board and Sub Divisional Magistrate Courts in the State of Kerala.

            The Directorate of Prosecution was established in the year 2000 as per G.O (Ms) No.224/2000/Home dated 13/10/2000 under the Home Department, Government of Kerala. The Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Vigilance) is the Head of Home Department.

          Administrative and supervisory control of the Deputy Director of Prosecution and Assistant Public Prosecutors are vested with the Directorate. The Director General of Prosecution spearheads the Directorate of Prosecution. The Director of Prosecution (Admin) stands shoulder to shoulder to acheive the goals of the system and overseas the operations of the Directorate of Prosecution, ensuring efficiency .Both the Director General of Prosecution and Director of Prosecution (Admin) have the power to decide on projects and progress of the department. Their responsibilities also includes setting goals, establishing budgets and guidelines, representing the department at meetings and media coverage, liaising with other Government departments, managing staff and monitoring the progress of operations. Moreover the Director General of Prosecution and Director of Prosecution (Admin) leads and encourage the prosecutors and the staffs of the department to reach goals while implementing the State policies and regulations.

      The Director General of Prosecution is the State Public Prosecutor and the Attorney of Kerala Lok Ayukta. The total strength of Deputy Directors of Prosecution is limited to 15. At present there are 181 Assistant Public Prosecutors in the department.The Assistant Public Prosecutors are recruited by the Kerala Public Service Commission. Director of Prosecution (Admin), Deputy Directors of Prosecution and Assistant Public Prosecutors are regular and permanent employees who are governed by the Kerala Service Rules. Whereas the appointment of Director General of Prosecution is by the Government on a tenure basis for a continuous period of 3 years.

       The Deputy Directors of Prosecution are the District level officers who have supervising control over the Assistant Public Prosecutors in the respective Districts. In addition to the supervisory duties they are Senior Assistant Public Prosecutors in Chief Judicial Magistrate Courts. The Assistant Public Prosecutors conducts prosecution before Magistrate Courts, Grama Nyayalayas, Juvenile Justice Board and Sub Divisional Magistrate Courts.