"Serious Issue": High Court Objects To Haryana Police Mentioning A Person's Religion In FIR

Calling it a "serious issue", the Punjab & Haryana High Court has objected to mentioning of a person's religion in the First Information Report (FIR) by the Haryana Police.

The bench of Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri recalled that a similar issue had arisen last year in Punjab and subsequently, the Assistant Inspector General of Police and Punjab DGP had filed affidavits that henceforth the religion of a person will not be mentioned in the FIRs.

The DGP had also issued a Circular declaring that religion or caste of the accused, victim or witnesses shall not be mentioned in the FIR or other official documents prepared during the course of the investigation, except where the same is absolutely necessary e.g. in cases related to Section 153-A, Section 295- A of IPC, etc.

Court lamented that despite such developments, there is no improvement so far as State of Haryana is concerned. It therefore directed Haryana's DGP to file an affidavit stating what corrective measures will be taken to ameliorate the situation.

The development comes in the bail plea moved by a woman accused in a money dispute. The matter is listed for September 18, for filing of the affidavit.

It may be noted that in March 2019, putting an end to a 'colonial legacy' practice of mentioning caste status in criminal proceedings, the Punjab and Haryana High Court observed that the caste system is profoundly illogical and is also against the basic tenets of the Constitution.