Chandigarh, March 26: The Government of Punjab has withdrawn its notification imposing a fee for downloading FIR copies from the police website, following strong observations by the Punjab and Haryana High Courts. The move comes after concerns were raised about charging citizens to access basic legal documents.
₹80 Fee Sparked Public and Legal Concerns
Earlier, the notification required citizens to pay ₹80 per FIR download through the official police portal. The decision drew criticism from legal experts and the public, who argued that FIRs are essential documents and should be freely accessible.
High Court Questions Legality of the Charge
The Punjab and Haryana High Court reportedly questioned the rationale behind imposing such a fee emphasizing that access to FIRs is a fundamental right linked to transparency and justice. The court’s intervention played a key role in prompting the government to roll back the decision.
Police Website No Longer to Charge Fee
Following the withdrawal, citizens will now be able to download FIR copies from the Punjab Police website without any charges. Officials have indicated that the earlier notification has been cancelled with immediate effect.
Relief for Citizens and Legal Community
The decision has been welcomed by lawyers and activists, who had raised concerns about barriers to accessing legal documents.
Experts say free access to FIRs ensures:
- Transparency in police functioning
- Ease of legal proceedings
- Protection of citizen rights