CIVIL LIBERTIES 1 31 the National Informatics Centre (NIC) so that there could be a more extensive use of computerisation in the subordinate judiciary. As regards certain changes in the substantive law that had been proposed by the Commission, the Government had indicated in its Action Taken Report (ATR) for the year 1998-99 that the Law Commission's recommendations in respect of amendments to the Cr.PC were under consideration of the Government. I 3.S4 In the absence of an Action Taken Report covering, the Annual Report of the Commission for the period 1999-2000, the Commission is not aware of the further progress, if any, made by the Government to implement the recommendations of the Commission on this overall subject. The Commission must therefore reiterate its earlier view that the Central Government completes the processing of the recommendations of the Law Commission speedily and take steps to amend the Cr.PC accordingly. The Commission also considers it necessary to restate some of its major recommendations concerning the changes that are required in the substantive laws since these have not as yet been effectively addressed by the authorities. These recommendations are: • There be a process of progressive and massive decriminalisation of offenses now recognised and made culpable as penal offenses. They should be treated as merely actionable wrongs for which compensation and not punitive action is the appropriate remedy. • The class of compoimdable offenses under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other laws should be widened. • In the disposal of arrears of criminal cases, experienced criminal lawyers be requested to work as part-time judges on a particular stipulated number of days on the pattern of 'Recorders' and 'Assistant-Recorders' in the United Kingdom. There is an existing provision in the Criminal Procedure Code for honourary Judicial Magistrates, which has not been imaginatively utilised, or its potential realised even in part. • The system of 'plea bargaining' be introduced on the pattern of recommendations already made by the Law Commission of India. • Magistrates and Sessions Judges while remanding persons under trial to judicial custody should clearly indicate in the very order of remand the terminus a quo. ANNUAL REPORT 2000-2001