“Fixing Accountability of Investigating and Prosecuting Officers ”

COMPLIANCE OF SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT

Kathua Police Constitutes Panel Headed by Additional SP

Jammu, 28/Oct/2015: To ensure compliance of the directions issued by the Supreme Court in the case titled ‘State of Gujarat Vs Kishanbhai’ the District Police Kathua has constituted a committee headed by Additional Superintendent, this is being informed by DSP Headquarters cum Public Information officer of the Police department, district Kathua.

While replying to an RTI application of RTI activist Raman Sharma as per the directions of the Chief Information Commissioner, the DSP Headquarters cum PIO, District Police Kathua vide his office letter no 4632-33/Hqrs dated 21/10/2015 has informed that keeping in view the extraordinary importance of the issue the recommendation of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in letter and spirit, accordingly a committee headed by Additional SP Kathua has been constituted.

In the Case titled ‘State of Gujarat Vs Kishanbhai’ the Honourable Supreme in 2014 had issued various recommendations to home department of each state to ensure that in criminal cases where a case is culminated in acquittal then the concerned Investigation/prosecuting officials responsible for such acquittal must be identified and a finding must be recorded to underline the lapse that whether the acquittal was blameworthy or innocent and each erring officer must suffer the consequences of his laps by appropriate departmental action and taking into consideration the seriousness of the matter, the official may be withdrawn from investigative responsibilities permanently or temporarily, depending purely on his culpability.  

The court have also asked for formulation of a procedure for taking action against all erring investigating/ prosecuting Officers/officials.  

In the order the court has also asked that home department of each state put in place training programme within six months of the judgement to ensure that those persons who handle sensitive matters concerning investigation/prosecution are fully trained to handle the same.

It is pertinent to mention here that Jammu and Kashmir State Information Commission has also played a significant role especially the Chief Information Commissioner GR Sufi who while deciding  a complaint of  applicant Raman Sharma have also made a written request to the concerned departments for proper implementation of this important judgement of the Supreme Court.

While appreciating the effort of Kathua Police, information seeker Raman Sharma has also congratulated the State Information Commission and demanded similar compliance of Supreme Court Judgement by all other district heads of the Jammu and Kashmir Police department.