HC seeks state reply on restrictions in downloading multiple FIR copies

THE HIGH COURT ASKED FOR STATE GOVT'S REPLY WHILE HEARING A PLEA ON PRACTICE OF ALLOWING ONE FIR COPY TO BE DOWNLOADED IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD

- Dinesh Bothra

JODHPUR: The Rajasthan high court has directed the government to file a reply within four weeks to a petition challenging the long-standing practice of allowing only one copy of the first information report (FIR) to be downloaded through a single user ID in a 24-hour period from the state police website.

During a hearing before the division bench comprising chief justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and justice Rekha Borana on Tuesday, counsel Razak Khan Haidar, representing the petitioner Uthaan Vidhik Sahayata Evam Sewa Sansthan, referred to the Supreme Court's judgment in the Youth Bar Association of India case. He argued that the apex court had ruled that an accused is entitled to receive a copy of the FIR at an earlier stage than prescribed under Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.