Madurai:
Madras high court has expressed doubts over the efficiency of the e-filing system for chargesheets and final reports, directing all principal district judges (PDJ) within the jurisdiction of the Madurai bench to submit reports on the number of e-filed final reports and how many were taken on record in the past year.
Justice K Murali Shankar observed that the court had come across several cases in which the prosecutors claimed that the concerned police have filed chargesheets/ final reports before the judicial magistrate/ sessions courts through e-filing, dating back to the period between last week and last year. However, the court is uncertain whether these chargesheets/ final reports are being unnecessarily delayed without being taken on file for an extended period.
The judge observed that the court earlier called for reports from some courts to ascertain whether the chargesheet/ final report was submitted as stated by the police and if so, the reasons for not taking the cases on file. The reports revealed that though final reports were submitted, memos were issued to rectify the defects and despite reminders, there was no response and hence, they were not in a position to take the cases on file.
"To ensure accountability from both the police and the court, both were directed to follow the e-filing system for filing chargesheets/ final reports without any deviation. Unfortunately, the system is not functioning properly, with both sides blaming each other," the judge observed.
The judge observed that to determine who is at fault and to improve the system's efficiency, it is essential to request particulars from both sides. Therefore, the judge gave the direction to all the PDJs.
Justice Shankar directed the inspector general of police for the south and central zones, and police commissioners of Madurai, Trichy, and Tirunelveli, to file similar reports on police stations under their jurisdiction.
This directive came during the hearing of a petition filed by S Janardhanan, seeking to quash an FIR filed against him by Vadamadurai police in Dindigul district. The petitioner had earlier filed a petition with the same prayer and the same was closed after it was informed that the final report was filed in the case. Since the final report is yet to be taken on file by the court, he filed the petition.
