Even IPS officers need basic training in filing FIRs: Karnataka high court

BENGALURU: Police personnel in Karnataka, including IPS officers, require training on the basics of FIR registration as per Supreme Court guidelines, the high court observed on Tuesday.
The court, which is hearing a PIL seeking action in 113 child abuse cases as mentioned in a central government report, also pulled up the additional director general of police (crime). “This is unheard of.We don’t understand this. This officer doesn’t even know the ABC of criminal law,” a division bench headed by chief justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka observed while referring to the December 16, 2019 letter from the officer to many superintendents of police (SPs).
In the letter, the ADGP had sought reports within a day regarding 113 child pornography cases as indicated in data published by the ministry of women and child development. The SPs replied the next day stating there were no such complaints in their respective jurisdictions. The bench noted the SPs’ action indicated they too lack knowledge of basic criminal law and the meaning of investigation. It wondered how the SPs concluded within a day that there were no cases of child abuse even without registering basic FIRs.
“It is common knowledge that there won’t be complaints in such cases. What the SPs have done is something that has been prohibited by SC,” the bench observed, in reference to non-registration of FIRs in the first place. Even though some were registered, they were found to be defective and corrective measures have been taken, the court was told.
Justice Oka suggested the DG & IGP circulate the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in Lalitha Kumari’s case to all police stations and added all cops, including IPS officers, must be trained in filing FIRs.