Police told to upload FIRs on website

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, December 24

The High Court directed the Police Department to upload the First Information Report (FIR) copies on the HP Police website within 24 hours of lodging the FIR so that the accused or any other person connected with the case can download the FIR and file appropriate application before the court as per law for redressal of his grievances.

In its order yesterday it clarified that the directions for uploading the FIR on the website of the HP Police would be given effect from January 26, 2015.

While passing this order, Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan observed: “Being a public document, the FIR cannot be withheld from the public domain and will not only lend credence, but bring transparency in the working of the Police Department in case the same is put in the public domain.”

The court directed the Chief Secretary to file his compliance report on or before January 30.

The court further held that the accused was entitled to get a copy of the FIR at an earlier stage as prescribed under Section 207 of the CrPC.

The court said: “In cases wherein decisions have been taken not to give copies of the FIR due to the sensitive nature of the case, it will be open to the accused/his authorised representative to file an application for grant of certified copy before the court to which the FIR has been sent and the same shall be provided in quite promptitude by the court.”

The court passed this order on a petition wherein the petitioner alleged that the police had not provided him a copy of the FIR registered against him for allegedly committing criminal trespassing.

The petitioner filed this plea for seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him at the Police Station, East, Chhotta Shimla, on November 29, 2014.