On Friday, the Rajasthan High Court directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to explain why subordinate officers continue to neglect their statutory duties, despite repeated directions and even arrest warrants from trial courts.
The case arose in a petition filed by Kuldeep Singh, where the prosecution’s difficulty in securing the presence of police officials as witnesses was brought to the Court’s attention. Counsel for the State submitted that despite sustained efforts by the trial court, police officers, who are crucial witnesses in recovery proceedings, have been consistently absent. Even the issuance of arrest warrants, the counsel noted, had failed to secure compliance, as some officers continued to avoid appearing before the court.
Justice Farjand Ali expressed stern displeasure over this state of affairs, observing, “Nothing could be more shameful for a democratic system wherein a serving police officer, who is posted somewhere in the state and performing public duty, cannot be arrested despite an arrest warrant against him.”
The Bench further noted that such conduct has the effect of eroding public trust in the administration of justice, stating “This situation shakes public faith in the judicial system and erodes society’s trust in the rule of law.”
Consequently, while directing the DGP to clarify why his subordinates were “consistently failing to perform their statutory duties,” the Court sought a personal affidavit of compliance to be filed on or before the next hearing scheduled for September 12.
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