“Time is not far when any handwritten documents will not be acceptable or accepted by a court. Production of handwritten documents comes in the way of digitalisation of the judicial process which is of prime importance today,” the HC noted.
The Karnataka High Court has ordered for the setting up of a task force for implementing its directions to the police on digitising the investigation procedure and start submitting all documents to the courts in digital format. The HC was hearing appeals by one Punit and his mother Godavari Bhimsingh Rajput, both of whom were convicted in the murder case of the former’s wife Ashwini Rajput. Punit was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Ashwini by setting her on fire in their home in Mudhol, while Godavari was convicted for harassment and sentenced to three years jail term.
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While acquitting them, the court made observations about the investigation and said “the investigation has not been carried out properly. This is again not a stray occurrence but a very common occurrence that this court has been coming across.”
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“Time is not far when any handwritten documents will not be acceptable or accepted by a court. Production of handwritten documents comes in the way of digitalisation of the judicial process which is of prime importance today,” the HC noted.
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“It is therefore required that First Information Reports, Crime Detail Forms, Arrest Memos, Search/Seizure Lists, Mahazars, Statements, Documents obtained during investigation from hospitals, Road Transport Authorities, FSL etc., Final report in the form of Charge Sheets, B reports, C reports etc., are digitally generated, signed and shared with courts handling bail matters, trial matters, appellate matters, revisional matters,” the HC directed in its November 4 judgement.
Source: The Economic Times
