High Court orders Punjab DGP to submit report on compliance in investigative procedures

Saurabh Malik

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Chandigarh, January 30

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the state DGP to provide a report on the compliance with its earlier directives regarding strict adherence to investigative procedures in cases involving incriminatory material, such as blood stains.

A Division Bench of the high court has also emphasised that an explanation must be furnished by the DGP in case of non-compliance of the directions given by the authorities concerned. The Bench was hearing an appeal in a murder case.

Taking up the matter, the Bench, comprising Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Lalit Batra, reiterated its earlier directives to the DGP while expressing concern over the uncertainty surrounding their implementation.

The Bench noted that it had previously instructed the Punjab DGP that all investigating officers collecting incriminatory material, including existing blood stains from the deceased or the accused, were required to ensure meticulous procedures. The objective was to facilitate conclusive findings by the serologist.

Elaborating, the Bench added that this included evaluating of the compatibility of blood stains found on the incriminatory material with the blood group of the deceased. Investigating officers were directed to undergo coaching and guidance to appropriately collect FTA cards from the families of both accused and the deceased. FTA cards are small, chemically treated filter papers used to collect, preserve and ship biological samples for DNA and RNA analysis.

Before concluding the order, the Bench asserted that: “A copy of this verdict should be immediately sent to the DGP. Within three months from today, an intimation must be provided to this court on whether the earlier directives have or have not been complied with by all concerned. If non-compliance persists, an explanation must be provided by all concerned regarding the reasons for not complying with the earlier directives of this court.”