Cops rapped over delay in rescue of kidnapped girl

The Madras high court has come down heavily on the Tiruchengode police for failing to act on a complaint filed by a mother seeking to find her 19-year-old daughter who had gone missing four months ago. 

A division bench comprising Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice Abdul Quddhose on expressing shock over the police failing to register an FIR till date despite receiving the complaint on February 14, 2019 said “It is nothing but a deliberate failure on the part of the police officer which has to be deprecated. The police authorities should understand the pain and suffering of the parents and other relatives of missing persons, especially the girls.”

“It is a girl missing case and it is a very serious issue. Despite the seriousness, no action has been taken by the police. Hence, the Inspector of Police, Tiruchengode Police Station is directed to appear before this Court on June 17 and file an affidavit as to why he has not registered the FIR for the past four months and what is the action taken pursuant to the complaint given by the petitioner,” the bench said

Also, accounting for submissions that the police officials fail to register FIR immediately when a complaint is received owing to their inability to decide whether the contents of the complaint would make out a cognizable offence or not, the bench led by Justice Kirubakaran said “It is seen that when a complaint is received, mechanically, a CSR is being issued. There is no provision shown to this Court regarding the issuance of CSR by the police officials. This kind of practice of issuing CSR should be deprecated.” “A decision should be taken by the police officials either to register FIR immediately or after considering the content of the complaint as to whether cognizable offence is made out or not or after conducting enquiry following the dictum laid down in Lalitha Kumari case,” the bench added while posting the case for further hearing to June 17.