Rajasthan High Court Seeks State Finance Department's Response On Proposal To Separate Police Investigation And Law & Order Wings
The Rajasthan High Court has sought a response from the State Finance Department on the proposal to separate the police investigation and law and order wings, while monitoring the implementation of police reforms aimed at ensuring speedy and effective criminal investigations. Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand directed that the Principal Secretary, Finance Department, be impleaded as a party and submit...
The Rajasthan High Court has sought a response from the State Finance Department on the proposal to separate the police investigation and law and order wings, while monitoring the implementation of police reforms aimed at ensuring speedy and effective criminal investigations.
Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand directed that the Principal Secretary, Finance Department, be impleaded as a party and submit a report on the steps taken regarding the proposal forwarded by the Police Headquarters and the Home Department.
The Court took note of the State's submissions that the Home Department had partly accepted the recommendations of a committee constituted pursuant to the Court's earlier directions and agreed to implement a pilot project segregating the police force into three functional wings: Law & Order, Investigation and Administration—in 20 police stations across 16 districts.
The Court was informed that the proposal requires creation of 828 posts and has been forwarded to the Finance Department for approval.
The Court appreciated the steps taken by the Police Headquarters and the Home Department towards better administration of justice by segregating the police wings so that criminal investigations are not disrupted due to law and order duties.
Referring to its earlier directions and the Supreme Court's decision in Prakash Singh v. Union of India, the Court reiterated that separation of the investigation wing from the law and order wing is necessary to ensure speedier investigation, better expertise and improved public confidence, while maintaining coordination between the two wings.
The Court also underscored the need to strengthen Rajasthan's forensic infrastructure, observing that the absence of well-equipped investigation laboratories in the State compels police to rely on facilities in other States, resulting in delays in investigations.
“The State is under constitutional obligation to provide adequate infrastructure for fair and speedy investigation as the delay in investigation, due to lack of adequate infrastructure for investigation, violates the right of fair investigation and speedy trial.”
Accordingly, the Court directed that a report be obtained from the Finance Department regarding the action taken on the proposal and listed the matter for further hearing on August 24, 2026.
Title: Prem Prakash Bidyasar v State of Rajasthan, and other connected petitions