Extend CCTNS-based online facility to STCs too: HC

The Madras High Court has asked the Tamil Nadu government to extend a CCTNS-based, online facility for sharing documents of road mishap cases to the State Transport Corporations (STC).
A bench of Justice P N Prakash asked the state government yesterday to provide the STCs access to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System-based Detailed Accident Report (DAR) system on payment like it is being made available to various insurance firms presently.
The bench gave the direction yesterday during the hearing of a petition which was filed by Cholamandalam Ms General Insurance Company Limited, Chennai in 2016, seeking a direction to the police to probe two false motor accident claims in Cuddalore district and take action.

The bench gave the direction yesterday after perusing the police's status report on the ongoing development the DAR system. The report was filed by the state's assistant inspector general of police (Law and Order).
Acceding to the AIG request, the bench gave the government three months time to offer DAR benefits also to the victims and the accused of the road mishap cases.
The police status report said as per the high court's January 5, 2017 order, the Crime Research Bureau was already developing an online platform through CCTNS for registration of FIRs, collection of documents and filing of final reports.

It also said all documents of road accidents cases registered and charge sheeted on and after March 1, 2017 have been made available for viewing/downloading.

During the hearing of the insurance firm Cholamandalam's petition last year, the petitioner had brought to the court's notice a Supreme Court order, directing implementation of the Detailed Accident Reporting procedure.
On coming to know of the apex court order for application of DAR regime throughout India and mandating DGPs of states and Union territories to implement it, the high court had directed the police officer concerned to appear in the court and file a status report on implementation of the DAR regime.

During the hearing yesterday, the judge was informed that the online facility was developed with the state government approval and a government order had been issued, enabling SCRB to collect Rs 100 per document from the firms.
At this the bench noted that the state was already sharing the details with 300 Motor Accident Claims Tribunals and could extend it to 100 district legal service authorities.
The Judge then posted the matter to July 15.