Supreme Court Guidelines Ignored in FIR Filing, Opposition Claims

During a recent interview, TMC MP Sagarika Ghosh alleged that West Bengal authorities are flouting a Supreme Court directive that requires every First Information Report (FIR) to be uploaded online. She claimed the omission deprives the accused of knowledge about the charges and hampers transparency. Ghosh emphasized that the court’s judgment is clear: any FIR must be made publicly available to protect the rights of the accused. She said the state not only fails to upload FIRs but also proceeds with arrests without issuing prior notice, contrary to Section 35(3) of the Indian Penal Code. According to the parliamentarian, the pattern of reviving old cases while filing fresh complaints under the guise of swift action reflects a systematic misuse of police powers. She warned that such practices erode public confidence in law enforcement and breach constitutional safeguards. The MP urged the chief minister and the Union Home Minister to intervene, stating that politicisation of the police cannot be tolerated. She pledged to take the matter to the Supreme Court and seek intervention from human‑rights bodies if necessary.