SC directs uploading of FIRs on websites nationwide within 24 hours

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed all states and union territories to upload all FIRs filed in state or UT, as the case may be, on their websites within 24 hours of registration at police stations.

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan, however, allowed states that are located in difficult terrains with poor infrastructure and communication facilities, time up to 72 hours for uploading of the FIRs.

The apex court also exempted state police authorities from uploading FIRs in sensitive cases pertaining to insurgency and sexual offences against women and children.

However, the bench made it clear that the accused cannot benefit before the court from the fact that the FIRs against them are not uploaded on the websites.

Although it was suggested during the hearing that the states be allowed to upload FIRs on websites within 48 hours, the court later fixed the time limit at 24 hours.

The court directive comes on a PIL filed by Youth Lawyers Association of India based on a decision of the Delhi High Court in which the HC directed the city police to upload FIRs on its website within 24 hours of being registered.