Upload FIR copies within 24 hours: SC to all state police

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court directed all state police on Wednesday to upload copies of first information reports on the department or government website within

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court directed all state police on Wednesday to upload copies of first information reports on the department or government website within 24 hours, a move expected to make the legal system more transparent and people-friendly. The Supreme Court directed all state police on Wednesday to upload copies of first information reports on the department or government website within 24 hours, a move expected to make the legal system more transparent and people friendly.

HT Image

The decision would protect the interests of the suspects and their families, putting a stop to corrupt practices by police, which often demand money to give copies of FIRs to the accused, experts said. The law mandates authorities to furnish the accused with a copy of the complaint.

But a bench of justice Dipak Misra and justice C Nagappan clarified that FIRs related to cases of terror, insurgency, sexual offences and involving the right to privacy would not be uploaded. This decision, the court said, shall not be taken by an officer below the rank of deputy superintendent of police.

This is the second major direction on FIRs by the apex court. A five-judge constitution bench had in November 2013 ordered mandatory registration of FIRs — without a preliminary inquiry — in case of serious offences such as murder and rape.