What is unfolding across States is not just administrative lapse but also a deliberate erosion of settled criminal law. The mandate to supply a copy of the
#FIR to the accused is not discretionary; it flows from statutory duty and has been unequivocally reinforced by judicial pronouncements from High Courts to the Supreme Court.
Supply of copy of FIR is a basic legal right, protected under Article 21. Denial or delay strikes at the very root of natural justice, crippling the accused’s ability to seek bail, prepare a defence, or even understand the allegations. Normalising this breach is nothing short of institutional contempt. When the State itself chooses opacity over legality, it converts procedure into punishment.
The right to receive the FIR is foundational, irrespective of the gravity of the alleged offence(s). To withhold it is to weaponise process, undermine due process, and signal that rule of law is negotiable. Such conduct deserves not justification, but strict judicial scrutiny and consequences. How can laid down precedents be violated and mocked repeatedly?
#DemocracyOnTrial #CriminalLaw #India #NotPolitical #Constitution #SupremeCourt