DGP TK Rajendran’s submission came after Justice M V Muralidharan took a serious note of how investigators were conveniently resorting to such practice paving way for easy closure of cases.

Even while detailing the action taken as directed by the court, the counter said the anomaly of FIRs being closed for non-filing of charge sheets was also because of the Magistrate courts’ failure to maintain a separate register on filing of charge sheets with the period of limitation.

“A register may be maintained in the trial courts for entering the date of receipt of final report, as it would… enable the process of fixing responsibility on the erring investigative officers,” said the counter. It added that all investigating officers have been asked to file final reports within the prescribed time through a circular dated January 30.

The circular also directed the officers to list cases that were not taken on file due to delay in filing final reports, and give it top priority by writing letters to the trial courts through public prosecutors appraising the necessity of taking the final reports on file to avoid closure.

Recording the submission, Justice Muralidharan reserved orders on the case.

The anomaly came to light during a civil appeal moved by Safire Print Lab Knits and Woven Fabric, Tirupur, against a Rs 3.94 lakh compensation granted to an employee who died in an accident while at work. 

Following the court’s instruction to file a report on the case status, Uthukului police filed a report, along with a communication issued by the Avinasi judicial magistrate dated June 8, 2016, stating that the FIR has been closed for not filing charge-sheet within the prescribed time.

Finding that the number of such closures was alarmingly high, the judge issued a slew of directions to make instigating officers accountable in this regard.