Investigating officers can upload case files online

GURUGRAM: The investigating officer (IO) is no longer required to be physically present for giving statements in high court and can submit inputs online, rather than travelling all the way to Chandigarh.

This update was shared by the deputy attorney general of the Punjab and Haryana high court during a workshop at the police commissioner’s office in the city.

The initiative is expected to reduce hassle and time taken in the high court’s proceedings. Addressing police personnel, the deputy attorney general said that the move would not only make things easier for investigating cops but also simplify the judicial procedure, ensuring speedy delivery of justice. Till now, the practice was that the IO prepared the case file and took it to the district attorney (DA), who would review and suggest changes before finalising the same. The IO would then take the file to the high court.

However, with the introduction of the new system, the case file can be uploaded online from the police station itself. The district attorney can check and approve it online before it is sent to the high court. “A special software has been prepared and a login ID and password created for each police station. Police officers can use the same to submit details of cases, along with dates and status, online and the information will be accessed by the high court,” said deputy attorney general.

Welcoming the move, police commissioner K K Rao said, “We battle with acute staff crunch and handle a number of cases. Police officers often have to leave the police station to go to court and it affects the work here. This also ultimately slows down the judicial process and this move will help us a lot.” He added that the software would be available at all police stations by next week.