Madhya Pradesh HC Asks Registrar IT, Additional DGP SCRB To Explain Steps Taken For Seamless Requisitioning & Transmission Of Case Diaries

The Superintendents of Police of four districts told the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that as per the present system of communication the requisition of case diaries is sent through Radio/Wireless Message or WhatsApp to the district's Nodal Officer who further sends it to the concerned police station, wherein sometimes, the communication is delayed or goes missing. The court thereafter asked its Registrar IT and the Additional Director General of Police State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) to appear in the matter on the next date along with the concerned Superintendents of Police of the four districts to explain steps taken in furtherance of the court's earlier directions issued in September 2024 in another matter. The court had in its September order asked the Registrar IT and the technical team of SCRB to submit a project report for seamless online requisitioning of Digital FIR and digital case diary through sharing of APIs (application programming interface) with the CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems) and transmission of Digital copy of FIR before the computer and IT committee of the high court within one month. The court had also directed implementation of a pilot project for Indore, Dewas and Rajgarh for transmission of digital FIRs and case diaries. Justice Sanjeev S Kalgaonkar after hearing the suggestions presented by SPs, in its January 23 observed, “Let Mr. Kuldeep Singh Kushwah, Registrar(I.T.-C.S.A), High Court of Madhya Pradesh and Mr. Chanchal Shekar, A.D.G.(S.C.R.B.) appear through Video Conferencing on 30.01.2025 to explain the proceedings undertaken in furtherance of the directions of this Court passed on 24.09.2024 in M.Cr.C. No. 36997/2024 (Jigar @ Jikar Versus The State Of Madhya Pradesh). All the Superintendents of Police present today through video conferencing are requested to join the hearing through V.C. on 30.01.2025”.The court was hearing a bail plea wherein in an earlier hearing the court had expressed its concern on administrative lapses in communication of message for production of case diary. In its last order dated January 21, the Court had expressed concern regarding administrative lapse in communication of message for production of case diary since in almost 10 cases before him, case diaries were not produced by the concerned police station. “It is unfortunate state of affairs that hearing on bail application is required to be adjourned for want of case diary. The applicant cannot be deprived of his right to be heard due to administrative lapse in communication of message for production of case diary”, the Court remarked.Thereafter, the court had asked Superintendents of Police (SPs) District, Mandsaur, Dhar, Agar Malwa and Ujjain to appear through Video Conferencing before the Court to submit their explanation with regard to reasons for non-production of case diary. The Court also said that the SPs may suggest remedial measures to improve the system.On January 23, the SPs informed the court that as per the present system of communication, the requisition of case diaries is forwarded through Radio/Wireless Message or Whatsapp Message to a Nodal Officer of the District, who further communicates the message to concerned police station. Sometimes, the communication gets delayed or missing. The SPs suggested that if the message is communicated through the CCTNS System, it will increase the efficiency and ease of working for the concerned concerned SHO. It was further suggested that the e-Rakshak App of the M.P. Police is yet to be configured for all the SHOs'. In the later stage, an 'Alert' may also be forwarded on e-Rakshak App. It will facilitate prompt remittance of case diaries on requisition from the High Court.The matter is listed for further hearing on January 30.Meanwhile, the high court also granted bail to the accused booked under the MP Excise Act in view of his age, profession, socio-economic status, family background and responsibility of the applicant, after noting that there appears to be no likelihood of his tampering with the evidence or possibility to flee from justice. Case Title: Bharatlal versus State of Madhya Pradesh, Misc. Criminal Case No. 1812 of 2025Click Here To Read/Download Order

Madhya Pradesh HC Asks Registrar IT, Additional DGP SCRB To Explain Steps Taken For Seamless Requisitioning & Transmission Of Case Diaries

Anukriti Mishra

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