UP govt orders daily watch on FIRs lodged, probe progress

The state government has instructed cops to lodge FIRs without delay irrespective of the complainant’s caste, creed or religion and act on them or be ready to face the music.

The government through its home department’s order dated June 19 ordered setting up FIR counters at district police chief’s offices in all districts. It also ordered daily follow-up of total FIRs registered and progress in their investigation at district, range and zone levels.

The order from principal secretary (home) Arvind Kumar, sent to all top police officials including the DG, Zone ADGs, IGs and DIGs besides district police heads, makes plain that these counters will help individuals unable to register their FIRs.

The government has also asked the police officials to ensure that details of FIRs lodged and their progress are updated on a regular basis to control room set up at the DGP office in Lucknow, informed a senior official of the state home department.

The DGP headquarters has been asked to review it on a regular basis.

The missive informs the cops that the government was taking non-registration of police complaints very seriously, reminding them that registering FIRs and investigating crime was the prime responsibility of the police administration.

The government has pointed out that citizens struggling to lodge police complaints were often forced to approach senior officials or take help of the court for it—something that erodes confidence of the common man in the police besides harming the image of the state government.

The Supreme Court issued clear guidelines with regard to lodging of FIRs in its order dated November 12, 2013 and which the state government now wants implemented in letter and spirit.

The latest order of the home department, UP, includes the important points of the Apex court’s ruling that the state government now wants the cops to adhere to strictly.

The government has asked officials to organise workshops and seminars for cops in this regard.

The government has asked the top police officials to make people aware of the e-Police station set up in the state capital and at which also the FIRs can be lodged using mobile and web applications or other electronic mediums as well as e-thana initiative that allows registration of complaints of non-serious offences by creating a citizen’s log in at www.uppolice.gov.in.