By Kiran Bedi and Ashok Dhamija
[This article was originally published in the leading newspaper Hindustan Times, Chandigarh edition, on 12 June 2008. Read the original article in the PDF form here.]
Corruption in police is an allegation one often comes across. How many of us are, however, aware that sometimes the system itself compels police to indulge into corruption for performing some task which, in fact, is the legal obligation of the judiciary?
In conformity with the principles of natural justice, law requires an accused person to be provided with a copy of the charge sheet filed against him in a criminal case along with copies of all statements and documents which are proposed to be used against him in the trial.
Under Section 173(4) of the old Code of Criminal Procedure of 1898, it was the duty of police to supply copies of such documents to the accused. However, the Law Commission noticed that this arrangement did not work satisfactorily as the police did not have the necessary equipment for furnishing legible copies in time, and it usually led to delays in the commencement of the proceedings in a trial.
Read the full article in PDF form as published in Hindustan Times.
