The Delhi High Court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Delhi Police to file a report indicating how many proclaimed offenders (POs) were still on the loose in various cases being probed by them and action taken against such people. Justice JR Midha also ordered CBI and Delhi Police to place on record
particulars with respect to compliance of relevant provisions of the Punjab Police Rules (PPR) pertaining to POs.
When a person avoids appearance before the court despite repeated warrants or fails to appear at a specified place and time as required by a proclamation under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), he is declared a PO by a court. The High Court directed CBI and Delhi Police to file their reports within six weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on January 23. The court was hearing a matter on how to deal with or nab people who have been declared POs under the law.
In the report sought from the two probe agencies, it asked about details of the number of POs, the dates of proclamation and action taken against them, if any. The report will also indicate whether relevant provisions of the Punjab Police Rules, with respect to POs, that are applicable to Delhi, are being complied with and if not, the reasons for non-compliance, the court said.
One such rule requires that a list of POs be maintained at each police station in a district and the same should be clearly displayed at the station. The court suggested publication of pictures of POs so that people were aware of such individuals which would help the authorities to catch hold of them. “Today only the investigating officer (IO) knows. No one else does,” it said. Meanwhile, Delhi State legal Services Authority (DSlSA) submitted before the court a blueprint prepared by it on how to get hold of POs while ensuring that no one is wrongly declared a PO. It sought more time to file a final and comprehensive report.