Overcrowding Of Courtrooms By Police: P&H HC Calls For State's Response On Plea Seeking Directions To Control Number Of Police Officials Visiting Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court today asked the Punjab Government to file an affidavit on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking directions for the state to take steps to control the number of Punjab Police Officials visiting the Court everyday to attend proceedings.

Acting Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji taking note of the plea, issued notice to the Punjab Government.

Advocate H.C. Arora moved High Court highlighting the issue of overcrowding within its premises due to the daily influx of over 600 police officials. This surge is imposing a significant strain on the available facilities.

Furthermore, it is severely prejudicing lawyers who struggle to secure seats in the courtrooms, the plea submitted.

The petition stated that since a large number of police officials are coming to court for various proceedings, many of whom are investigating officers, they are unable to fulfill their duties and utilize their time for conducting investigations.

It was submitted that the Haryana Government uses a proforma to obtain necessary information from police personnel, and the information is then submitted online to the Advocate General's Office, thereby eliminating the need for them to be physically present in the Court.

Reliance is placed on the High Court's order in Sachin v. State of Haryana, 2014, wherein the Court directed the Director General of Police (Prisons) of Punjab, Haryana, and UT Chandigarh to issue instructions to all jail superintendents that every custody certificate presented in the Court should include details such as pending cases against the convict, number of cases decided against the convict, and the period undergone by the convict, among other pertinent information.

In light of the above, the plea sought directions to the Punjab Government to take appropriate steps to minimize the number of police officials who visit the High Court daily to personally attend proceedings, by adopting innovative measures similar to those implemented by the Haryana Government.

DAG, Punjab Arjun Sheoran orally submitted before the Court today, that the government is in the process of implementing effective measures to limit the physical appearance of police officials in Court.

The matter is listed for May 28, for further consideration.

Title: H.C. Arora v. State of Punjab. & Ors.