The High Court on Friday issued strict directions to DG&IGP Lalrokhuma Pachau and Bangalore City Police Commissioner Jyothiprakash Mirji to issue a circular to all police stations and junior-level officers in the state to conduct free and fair investigation of criminal cases and file thorough FIRs and chargesheets to ensure that the accused do not go scot-free, taking advantage of loopholes in the case.
A division Bench of Justice K Sreedhar Rao and Justice H Billappa passed the directions while hearing an appeal filed by one Gurulingappa challenging a lower court order sentencing him to life imprisonment for allegedly murdering Siddaiah after a quarrel.
The Bench observed that in criminal cases, senior officers should scrunitise the chargesheet and correct any mistakes. In many cases, there is a huge difference between the FIR and chargesheet.
Witness statements should be recorded properly and autopsy and forensic reports maintained carefully. Soon after a complaint registered, there should be an identification parade of the accused.
All these things have been told many times by the court, but it is not followed by the police, the Bench told the senior police officers who were present in the court.
While acquitting Gurulingappa of the murder of Siddaiah, owing to the differences in statements given by witnesses, chargesheet, autopsy report and forensic reports, the Bench noted that the accused get acquitted easily if the investigation officer does not record statements of witnesses properly or delays the investigation.
Stay Refused
The High Court on Friday refused to grant interim stay on the tender notification on high security registration number plates in connection with a petition challenging the modified circular issued by the government.
M/s Tonnjes Eastern Security Technologies Pvt. Ltd., had sought interim stay on the circular.
Justice Mohan M Shantangoudar adjourned the case for further hearing.
‘Social Justice is for everyone’
Bangalore: Providing social justice is the basic feature of the Constitution and is not the charity of judges. It is the right of citizens to seek justice before the courts, Supreme Court judge, Justice V Gopal Gowda said on Friday. He was speaking at an event organised by the Advocate Association, Bangalore, to felicitate newly-appointed Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar. On his part, Ravivarma Kumar said he was aware of his duties as AG and he will be fighting not only for 50,000 advocates, but also for the six crore citizens of the state.