New Delhi: Policemen in Delhi denying
anyone a copy of First Information Reports (FIRs) will be a
thing of the past.
From February one, people can download new FIRs
registered in the capital from Delhi Police`s official website
-- www.delhipolice.nic.in. An accused can get a copy from the
police station by paying Rs 25.
The move comes following a direction by the Delhi High
Court on December six last year when it said that an accused
is entitled to get a copy of the FIR within 24 hours of its
registration and police cannot deny supplying it.
The court had said that the FIRs should be uploaded
online within 24 hours of its registration though it exempted
the force from making public FIRs on sensitive issues.
However, whenever it does not make FIRs public, such a
decision has to be taken by an officer not below the rank of
Deputy Commissioner of Police and they have to inform the area
magistrates.
"We will be uploading the FIRs from February one. The
FIRs will be uploaded from police stations and software has
been installed," Rajan Bhagat, Delhi Police spokesperson,
said.
All the police stations have been instructed to upload
all FIRs registered.
According to the official, an accused can apply for
the copy of an FIR at a charge of Rs 25 for four pages and an
extra Rs ten for each extra page.
"The accused can approach the police station in person
or depute another person or his lawyer to collect the FIR
registered against him," Bhagat said.
The FIRs on sensitive issues like terrorism, national
security, rape, molestation and kidnapping for ransom will not
be uploaded, he said.
The application forms for procuring the FIRs will be
available at all police stations and Deputy Commissioners`
office, he said.
The High Court had observed that fair and impartial
investigation is the fundamental right of an accused and he or
she need not move to court in order for getting a copy of FIR
and it is the duty of the police to provide it.
An accused is entitled to get a copy of the FIR at an
earlier stage than as prescribed under Section 207 of the CrPC
which says that accused has to move the court and it would be
supplied by order of Magistrate, the High Court had said.
In case if police refuse to reveal the FIR, then the
person can approach the Police Commissioner, who will form a
committee to decide such cases.
PTI
