The Supreme Court has strongly criticized the Gujarat police for failing to conclude an investigation that has dragged on for over 20 years, directing them to complete the probe within six weeks. A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and A G Masih observed that constitutional courts must not remain mute spectators when citizens face inordinate delays in investigations and have to struggle to get their grievances addressed.
Background of the Case
The complaint was filed before a judicial magistrate first class in 2007. The complainant's plea to direct the police to file a chargesheet was rejected by the Gujarat High Court. The Supreme Court noted that nearly two decades have passed since the initiation of the complaint, yet the investigation has not reached any meaningful conclusion. The bench remarked that the complainant had run from pillar to post to get a chargesheet filed, but to no avail.
Reasons for Delay
The investigation was delayed because material seized during the probe got misplaced during transit after forensic science laboratory examination and was never received by the judicial magistrate. The High Court had ordered a re-investigation in 2017, but the original case papers remained untraceable. Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the concerned officer, and appropriate action was taken.
Supreme Court's Observations
The bench stated that incidents where case records are lost during an active investigation must be taken with utmost seriousness. Such incidents strike at the very core of the criminal justice system, rendering bona fide complaints inactionable. The court directed the state of Gujarat and the Bhiloda police station to conclude the investigation within six weeks and file an appropriate report with the judicial magistrate, containing all investigative material or the lack thereof.
The Supreme Court's intervention underscores the importance of timely justice and the role of constitutional courts in ensuring that prolonged investigations do not defeat the purpose of the legal system.
