Punjab is assessed costs by the High Court due to the investigation’s delay

In a major ruling that might alter the way police investigations drag on for months at a time, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has fined Punjab for allowing the “victim” of an assault case to approach the court seeking the resolution of a year-long inquiry.

Judge Harkesh Manuja further said unequivocally that the person in question who caused the delay in submitting the final report will cover the fees, which may “even include the Kapurthala SSP office.”

Justice Manuja also said that the petitioner will get payment for the Rs 20,000 in fees. The Bench has set a deadline of one week for the purpose. Although the sum may not seem substantial at first, the court’s ruling is noteworthy because it is anticipated that the application of fees would act as a strong disincentive against delays in the inquiry process.

The ruling was made in response to a petition that victims of an assault, represented by attorney Charan Jit Sharma, brought against Punjab and other defendants. He was asking the state and other respondents, among other things, for guidance in conducting a free and unbiased investigation into a First Information Report (FIR) that was filed at Sultanpur Lodhi police station in the Kapurthala district on April 15, 2023, for attempted murder and other offenses under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Sharma said that after an assault by their relatives, the petitioner and his mother suffered injuries. No one was detained despite the filing of a formal complaint. Instead, he said, they were constantly menacing the petitioner as they wandered about.

The state’s attorney claimed that the Section 307 attempt to murder offense had been removed from the patient’s medical file. However, the file that was sent to the Kapurthala SSP office on December 31, 2023, was not yet ready for review.

After dismissing the petition, Justice Manuja gave the official responders two weeks to wrap up the inquiry and provide the final report to the illaqa magistrate.

“The Kapurthala SSP will stay in court to explain the reason for the delay in submitting the final report if the compliance is not completed prior to the application being listed. Additionally, it is mandated that the petitioner get Rs 20,000 as payment for coming before this court and asking that the investigating agency wrap up the investigation,” he said.