Shocked At Staggering Figure of 79,000 FIRs Awaiting Conclusion: High Court Asks Punjab To Submit Action Plan

Expressing shock at the fact that a staggering figure of 79,000 FIRs are awaiting conclusion, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has called upon the State of Punjab to submit an Action Plan within a period of two weeks.
The Court was considering an application seeking revival of the main petition which was dismissed in the light of the assurance given by the State of Punjab that all streneous efforts would be made to complete the investigation in FIR under Sections 307, 379-B, 34 of IPC, 1860 alongwith Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959 within one month.
The bench of Justice Sandeep Moudgil observed, "Shocked at the staggering figure of 79,000 FIRs still awaiting logical conclusion in the FIRs despite lapse of statutory period, State is called upon to submit an Action Plan within a period of two weeks, which shall depict the date of FIR, the time prescribed under the Court for the completion of investigation and the proposed time frame to conclude the same."
The Petitioner was represented by Advocate Beant Singh while the Respondent was represented by Additional Advocate General A.D.S. Sukhija.
It was asserted that the Station House Officer of the said Police Station was apprised of the order and a request was made to complete the investigation as per undertaking given.
The Petitioner submitted that the Station House Officer showed his inability to conduct a proper investigation until and unless bail granted to the accused by the Additional Sessions Judge is not cancelled. The Petitioner further pointed out that it has already come on record in the investigation conducted so far that there have been exchange of 30 calls between Respondent No.2/accused and two unknown persons, who attacked the Petitioner by shooting with the intent to kill him and it is respondent No.2/accused, who can disclose their identity, but has been granted bail by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Ferozepur, which is caused prejudice to the proper conduct of investigation.
The Court took note of the affidavit that stated that over 10,000 FIRs in the State are still pending investigation, despite the lapse of the prescribed 90-days period within which the Investigating Agency is required to submit a final report. The Additional Advocate General of Punjab also stated on record that 79,000 FIRs are pending in similar circumstances, where the stipulated period for submitting the final report has already expired.
The Court thus called for the Action Plan to be furnished by way of an Affidavit of the Director General of Police, Punjab.
The matter was accordingly posted for 30th January 2025.
Cause Title: Saraj vs. State of Punjab And Another
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