PIL in SC seeks supply of FIR copy in electronic format to accused

A PIL has been filed in Supreme Court seeking the supply of FIR copy in electronic format to accused within 24 hours. The petitioner alleges that provision regarding this has been absent in the lockdown guidelines issued by the union government.

New Delhi: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been moved to the Supreme Court seeking directions to the DGP and Home secretaries of the states for supplying FIR copy along with the complaint to the accused or his family within 3 hours of the same being applied. A physical copy of both is sought within 24 hours.

The petition has been filed by Avishek Goenka who contends that due to non-functioning or limited functioning of courts, the accused are not able to get the FIR copy forcing them to abandon their legal remedy and hence violating Article 14 and 21 of the constitution.

Criticising the government's lockdown guidelines for being silent on the issue, Goenka writes that "The state being a custodian of the welfare of citizen, can not be a silent spectator to any injustice".

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According to the law, a copy of FIR and complaint is required to avail relief.

Through his prayer, Goenka seeks a constitution of a joint expert committee for examining these issue and consider his suggestions. He also asks the court for directions to the DGP and home secretaries to accept applications for FIR copy through physical as well as electronic means.