New Delhi

High Court pulls up police officers

For bunking court duties

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has deplored the tendency of police officials investigating crime matters abstaining from attending court hearings on account of which the accused have to be detained indefinitely in custody.

Justice B.D. Ahmed directed senior police officials to emphasise to investigating officers that their absence from courts could amount to obstructing the course of justice for which serious action may be taken. The court was irked into passing such directions after Government counsel Pawan Sharma sought adjournment in a bail application matter on the plea that he did not have the file pertaining to the case as the investigating officer was not present.

Sharma said that though the investigating officer was intimated about the hearing of the bail application by the accused, he abstained from attending the hearing.

The counsel's submission irked Justice Ahmed, who noted that of late, investigating officers are not present in the court. As a result, the standing counsel for the State have to cut a very sorry figure and are left with no other alternative but to ask for an adjournment even in bail matters.

"This kind of attitude on the part of the investigating officers displays a complete lack of sensitivity, in as much people who are in custody approach this court with applications of bail and they have to be retained in custody because of the callousness of the investigating officers," the court said. The court directed the DCP South-West Delhi to file a reply. PTI

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