HC seeks action plan on 79K pending FIRs, raps state for ‘lacklustre’ response

Shocked at the pendency of 79,000 FIRs in Punjab despite the lapse of the prescribed period for completing investigation, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the state to submit an action plan. For the purpose, Justice Sandeep Moudgil has set a two-week deadline.

The Bench made it clear that the action plan was required to include “the date of FIR, the time prescribed for the completion of investigation, and the proposed timeframe to conclude the same.” This information was directed to be furnished by way of an affidavit by the state Director General of Police.

The direction by Justice Moudgil came after Punjab Additional Advocate General ADS Sukhija told the court that investigations in 79,000 FIRs had exceeded the stipulated timeline for submitting the final investigation report or the challan.

The court, on a previous date of hearing, had referred to its role as a constitutional guardian, while stressing the need for effective law enforcement. Taking note of an increase in petitions exposing failures in law enforcement across Punjab, the court had called for a detailed report on pending FIRs where investigations had exceeded prescribed timelines prescribed under the law.

As the matter came up for resumed hearing, Justice Moudgil referred to the gravity of the situation by asserting: “Having experienced lacklustre response of the state government not only in the instant petition, where the investigation has been delayed beyond the usual timeframe, but also in other cases presented before this court on the same day, this court (on a previous date of hearing) directed the DGP to provide details of all FIRs pending within the state of Punjab where investigations have not been completed within the prescribed statutory period.”

Justice Moudgil also noted in its order that extension for completing the investigation was not sought in majority of cases, as observed earlier also by the court during the hearing of multiple petitions. The court added a “voluminous affidavit” was submitted by Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav and Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police in response to the court’s earlier directions. The affidavits included a district-wise breakdown of pending FIRs. Taking a note of the statistics, the Bench called for the action plan.