Delhi HC directs police to refrain from filing status report in 'casual' manner

The Delhi High Court has directed Delhi Police officials to refrain from filing status reports in a "casual" and "cavalier" manner.

A division bench of justices Siddharth Mridul and Sangita Dhingra directed the officials to exercise caution, care and diligence while responding to proceedings pending before the court.

"The officers of the Delhi Police are directed to eschew from filing status reports in a casual and cavalier manner," it said.

The bench's observations came while discharging a criminal contempt notice issued to a station house officer of Mayur Vihar Police Station in East Delhi by a single judge of the high court for allegedly making a wrong statement in a status report filed in the court.

The bench observed that officials of Delhi Police are required to be held to the high standards by which they profess their conduct to be judged.

"In view of the foregoing, the notice of criminal contempt issued to the concerned SHO is hereby discharged, whilst directing him to exercise due caution, henceforth. The officers of the Delhi Police are directed to eschew from filing status reports in a casual and cavalier manner," the bench said.

The single judge was hearing a petition by a woman seeking directions to remove derogatory remarks made against her and her community by a post on a social networking site.

On court's direction, a status report was filed by the SHO concerned in which it was stated that "a letter has been sent to .... (social networking site) through Cyber Cell East Delhi to remove the contents/ photographs uploaded on the site in connection with the petitioner (woman)."