Gurpreet Singh :- The issue of charging a fee for downloading copies of FIRs from the Punjab Police website has now reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, with a public interest litigation challenging the decision. The petition has been filed by advocates Vasu Ranjan Shandilya and Abhishek Malhotra, who have questioned the legality of imposing an ₹80 charge for accessing such documents.
In their plea, the petitioners argued that charging citizens for obtaining a copy of an FIR violates fundamental rights, asserting that individuals should not be compelled to pay for accessing information related to complaints filed in their own cases. They further contended that such a move undermines transparency in the legal process.
The petition also referred to Supreme Court guidelines, which mandate that FIRs should be uploaded on official websites within 24 hours of registration to ensure easy public access. Imposing a fee, they argued, defeats the very purpose of these directions and restricts free access to crucial legal information.
The controversy stems from a recent decision by the Punjab government to introduce an ₹80 fee for downloading FIR copies as part of its online services. Legal experts believe the move places an additional burden on citizens, particularly those already engaged in legal battles. The High Court is expected to seek a response from the state government as the matter proceeds.
