Now, Delhi cops can depose, present evidence in court via video from police stations
According to officials from the L-G Office, this marks a departure from the current requirement for officers — including investigating officers and those who are witnesses in criminal cases — to be physically present in court for providing evidence or deposition. Officers will no longer have to travel and physically attend court proceedings — saving a great amount of time and resources.
This major reform comes under the draft model rules (Nyaya Shruti) on video conferencing under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which recommends for inclusion of police stations as a 'designated place' for deposition through video conference for police personnel/officers.
According to officials, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has personally been supervising the smooth implementation of the three criminal laws since their rollout last year, has also been emphasising on deposition of police personnel through video conferences from police stations.
In a recent review meeting, Shah had directed for setting up of an adequate number of video conferencing facilities to ensure smooth functioning and proper coordination between police and the courts.
However, at the same time, the Home Minister categorically directed that witnesses in a case must not be examined from the video conferencing facility at police stations, and only police officers could be examined from these facilities.
Accordingly, the Delhi Police had requested notifying all 226 police stations as 'designated place', following which a proposal to this effect was sent by the Delhi government's Home Department to the L-G, officials said.
According to Delhi Police estimates, on average, nearly 2,000 police officers depose before various courts every day.
Officials said the move is expected to bring greater transparency and efficiency in overall police functioning. Further, it would decongest the courts and enable police officers to devote more time to policing and the investigation of other cases.
Earlier, the video conferencing facility for providing evidence was only available in the Delhi High Court, District Courts, Delhi Prisons, Hospitals and the Forensic Science Laboratory, and some government offices.
With the notification, these police stations can be used for deposition through video conference:
Territorial Police Stations: 179
Metro Police Stations: 16
Cyber Police Stations: 15
Railway Police Stations: 8
Crime Branch: 2
IGI Airport: 2
Economic Offence Wing (EOW): 1
Special Cell: 1
Crime Against Women (CAW) Cell: 1
Vigilance: 1
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