SUPREME COURT SEEKS UNION'S RESPONSE ON PLEA SEEKING FREE SUPPLY OF CHARGESHEET TO COMPLAINANTS OR VICTIMS

The Supreme Court in the case Vivek Kumar Gaurav v. Union of India observed and has issued notice on a petition filed seeking directions to authorities for free-of-cost supply of chargesheets or final reports to complainants/ victims and issuance of notice at pre-trial stage.

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The bench comprising of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta in the case was hearing the petition filed by a practicing lawyer, under Article 136 of the Constitution of India.

The petitioner in the plea challenges a Delhi High Court judgment of February, 2024 which disposed of similar prayers without issuing the directions sought by the petitioner.

The counsel appearing for the petitioner argued before the court that though CrPC provides that a victim has right to participate in criminal proceedings initiated upon his or her complaint, there is no provision for a direction to supply chargesheet to the victim.

The bench while considering the submissions and material on record issued the notice.

Further, it has been suggested by Mehta, J that the petitioner should look at the judgment in Bhagwant Singh v. Commissioner of Police.