New Delhi, Jul 8 A court here has expressed concern over repeated delays in the appearance of police witnesses and the production of case property in a case related to the 2020 Delhi riots, saying it resulted in wastage of time.
Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh also directed that the issue be brought to the notice of the police commissioner so that the timely presence of police witnesses before trial courts could be ensured.
In an order dated July 7, the court said, “It has been observed that police witnesses are not present before this court at 10 am and usually they appear at 11 am which results in wastage of that much time. Most of the cases in this court are at the stage of evidence and therefore, call for evidence case usually comes at around 10.05 am.”
The judge further said that the delay had continued despite a similar concern having already been recorded in the previous hearing.
The order came after the matter was called twice but the court was informed that the case property had not been produced by the police. The court later noted that the concerned official of the Special Cell appeared only at 10.55 am, by then testimony in another case had already commenced. It also noted that the investigating officer in that matter had arrived late.
Directing that a copy of its July 4 order be annexed, the court said the matter should be brought to the notice of the Delhi police commissioner "to look into the issue and to ensure the presence of witnesses before the court in time".
“Let the matter be brought to the notice of Worthy Commissioner of Police to look into the issue and to ensure the presence of witnesses before the court in time. Copy of the order dated July 4, 2026 be also annexed with this order,” it said.
The court was hearing a case against multiple persons who were accused of rioting, unlawful assembly and being part of riots in the Dayalpur area of the national capital.
