Jharkhand High Court on Thursday ordered State DGP to file affidavit with copies of details of form-16 of all the police stations of State within 70 days. The form-16 has a column containing the list of warrantees in a police station area.
Justice KP Deo passed the order in a case related to Barwadih police station in the Latehar district in which an accused person was absconding for the past 15 years. DGP DK Pandey, Home Secretary SKG Rahate and senior officials were present in the court on the latter’s direction.
One Hari Singh who was convicted in the case went into a criminal appeal in the HC against the judgment. During the hearing the court sought information on action taken against the other co-accused who has been shown as an absconder since 2003.
The HC was very much concerned regarding police casual approach in the past several years on arresting the accused person. The court had ordered the police to file counter affidavit giving full details on the status of the execution of the warrant.
However, in the last hearing when a junior officer of the rank of ASI appeared with affidavit on behalf of Latehar SP the court was not pleased. The details in the affidavit were not according to the direction of the court.
Advocate General Ajit Kumar said that subsequently the HC ordered the Jharkhand Home secretary, DGP, Inspector General and other officials to appear in person before the court and explain the situation.
During the hearing the DGP appreciated the concerns of the court and said that he would streamline the system within 60 days. He said the necessary details should be maintained in form 16 adding that effort should also be made to execute the warrant. The DGP also informed that the absconding accused has now been arrested.