Court warns cops in northeast Delhi riots cases

NEW DELHI: A city court has said that it will hold DCP (northeast) and Delhi Police commissioner personally responsible for imposition of cost if the investigating officers seek adjournment in northeast Delhi riots cases to comply with previous orders on the ground that they were not aware of the directions passed.
The court had on April 12 noted that an investigating officer (IO) was directed to supply a copy of e-challan to one of the accused in a riots case, but it was not supplied till September 25 because he was not aware of the order.On September 25, the court adjourned the matter for compliance of the April 12’s order and imposed a cost of Rs 5,000 to be deposited by Delhi Police. It then directed the police commissioner to conduct an inquiry for deduction of cost from the salary of the responsible officer within four weeks.
On October 21, the court noted that no report in terms of its previous order has been received from the police commissioner although a request for extension of time for completion of inquiry as per directions of the police commissioner has been received from the DCP (northeast).
“Let an explanation be called from commissioner of police, Delhi under his signatures through secretary (Home) Union of India as to why appropriate action as per law be not taken against him for non-submission of the report in terms of previous order,” chief metropolitan magistrate Arun Kumar Garg said in the order.
The IO had also filed an application for waiver of the cost imposed upon Delhi Police.
The court waived off the cost, saying although no plausible explanation has been furnished by the IO for non-compliance with its directions, in the interest of justice, it was waived off as the copy of e-challan had been supplied to the accused.
“However, it is made clear to DCP NE as well as to the commissioner of police, Delhi that in case in future the IOs seek adjournment for compliance with the orders on the ground that they were not aware of the directions, DCP NE as well as Delhi Police commissioner shall be held personally responsible for imposition of cost if any,” it said.