Chandigarh, March 25 -- The legality of the Punjab Police charging a fee for downloading copies of First Information Reports (FIRs) has come under judicial scrutiny, with a petition filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the validity of the policy.
Advocates Vasu Ranjan Shandilya and Abhishek Malhotra moved the court against the decision to levy a fee of Rs 80 for accessing FIR copies through the state's 'Sanjh' portal and mobile application, terming the move a violation of fundamental rights.
The petitioners argued that the current policy of the Punjab Police contradicts established legal principles, which mandate that a copy of the FIR must be provided to the victim or the complainant free of charge. They highlighted tha...