Cops prefer using Urdu words

The Delhi Police has opposed a PIL in the high court that sought to replace “archaic and difficult” Urdu and Persian words with Hindi and English phrases in FIRs and daily documentation, saying the words have come to be “widely understood even by a layman in Delhi”.

“The words used are neither archaic nor difficult but on the other hand replacement of these words in ‘Hindi’ as suggested in the petition would create a lot of difficulties, both for litigants and the lawyers,” an affidavit filed by the city police said.

“Hindi substitute to these Urdu words, which are presently being used by the police, are much more difficult to understand for an average person,” it added.

The affidavit was filed in response to a PIL by advocate Amit Sahni who contended that the use of “archaic and difficult Persian and Urdu words” in dayto-day police work, such as registration of FIRs and recording of witness statements, confuses people and should be replaced with their Hindi or English usage.

The affidavit was filed in response to a PIL by advocate Amit Sahni who contended that the use of “archaic and difficult Persian and Urdu words” in day-to-day police work, such as registration of FIRs and recording of witness statements, confuses people and should be replaced with Hindi or English. “It is not only cumbersome for Delhi Police officers... but also for accused/counsel and even judicial officers...,” the PIL said.

The police, however, said: “No difficulty has ever been experienced by anybody including lawyers in understanding the words and phrases being used by the police... Working of police is going on very smoothly with the present words and phrases.”

The words used are neither archaic nor difficult but on the other hand replacement of these words in ‘Hindi’ as suggested in the petition would create a lot of difficulties, both for litigants and the lawyers

AN AFFIDAVIT FILED BY DELHI POLICE