Is it feasible to record phone calls to and from police stations? asks Delhi HC

A Bench of the Delhi High Court is pushing for greater use of technology in justice delivery system. In an order passed on October 18, the Court has asked the Commissioner of Delhi police to submit a report on the feasibility of recording all telephone calls coming to and going from police stations..The order was passed by a Bench of Justices Gita Mittal and PS Teji, the same Bench which is pushing for greater use of technology in criminal justice system..Advocate Ali Qambar Zaidi appeared for the petitioner Abdul Mabood while Senior Advocate Sunil Mittal appeared for the respondents along with advocates VS Tomar and Dhruv Grover..The order was passed as a result of dispute relating to whether a complaint has been made at a police station or not. While it is the petitioner’s contention that he had made a written complaint to the Vasant Kunj (south) police station, the same is disputed by the Division Officer of the Vasant Kunj (south) police station..Interestingly, the copy of the complaint placed on record opens with the reference to a “telephonic talk at about 9.35 PM and complaint sent by email today at 6.25 PM”..The petitioner has alleged that no action was taken on his complaint because of the influence of the opposite party..The court after hearing the parties noted in its order that a difficult situation has arisen as “a telephonic complaint by a citizen has either not been entertained or proof of the complaint having been made is not available.”.The court noted that the such difficulties can avoided only if all the telephonic calls made to police station are recorded..“This situation can be avoided only if all calls made to Police Station are recorded and the records thereof are maintained. Learned senior counsel for the respondent and the petitioner submit that this would lend transparency and credibility to police action and would go in long way ensuring that the process of law is duly and strictly followed. .The same would also obviate allegations of undue influence or improper action which are made against police officials undertaking field duties and investigations. We are also informed that such practice is prevalent in several parts of the world and goes a long way in ensuring that due process of law is followed.”.The High Court, therefore, proceeded to direct the Commissioner of Delhi police to examine the feasibility of recording all calls made or received to or from the Police Station. The Commissioner has to submit his report to the Court in four weeks..Earlier last month, the same Bench had asked the State government, the Delhi police, and district judges to suggest the possibility and method for e-transmission of First Information Reports (FIRs) to magistrates under Section 157 of the Code of Criminal Procedure..Read the order below.