Karnataka High Court Issues Notice To Lokayukta Police On Plea To Upload FIRs On Website

A division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B. Varale and Justice Ashok S. Kinagi issued notices to the State government and the Additional Director General of Police, Office of Karnataka Lokayukta.

The plea filed by Advocates Umapathi S relies on Youth Bar Association of India Vs Union of India, wherein the Supreme Court directed all FIRs to be uploaded on the official website of the concerned Police within 24-hours.

The plea states that the Police wing of Karnataka Lokayukta, which is notified as Police stations as per government notification, has not yet implemented the directions. The petition submitted a request to comply with direction of the Apex court to the respondents and since no positive action was taken, he approached the court.

Further, it is said that most of the citizens approaching the institution of Lokayukta are ignorant, poor and illiterate and some of them don't even approach Constitutional courts for relief. They have no access to justice and are incapable of accessing the Courts themselves. Non-availability of FIR by these persons also constrain them to approach different courts for relief costing them money and effort, the plea states.

The petitioner has also pointed out that since the Anti-Corruption Bureau is now abolished by virtue of order of the High Court and the power to probe cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act is restored to the Lokayukta police, the uploading of FIR by the Karnataka Lokayukta Police should be continued as earlier without any hindrances. Moreover, non-availability of FIR on the website is violation not only of Apex court order but also the Fundamental rights of the citizens.

The matter will be heard on November 9.

Case Title: UMAPATHI S v. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

Case No: WP 20297/2022