Court suggests integration of criminal antecedents data into NCRB portal to aid judicial processes
In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has dismissed the bail application of Parveen Taneja, who was convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of his wife. The bench, comprising Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Madhu Jain, emphasized the need for a comprehensive integration of criminal antecedents data from courts into the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) portal, to enhance the efficiency of judicial processes.
The court observed that the lack of readily available information on criminal antecedents often leads to unnecessary adjournments during bail and suspension of sentence hearings. To address this, the court proposed two key measures: mandating the disclosure of criminal antecedents by applicants and integrating data from courts into the NCRB portal. This integration would include non-FIR complaint cases, which are currently not reflected in the NCRB database.
During the hearing, reports from the Director General of Prisons, Delhi, and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, were presented. These reports highlighted the current limitations in data availability, particularly concerning complaint cases not resulting in FIRs. The court acknowledged these gaps and called for the NCRB to explore possibilities for data integration to include pending and decided complaint cases.
The court also addressed the application for suspension of sentence filed by Taneja, who has served over eight years in incarceration. Despite arguments from his counsel regarding the lack of fingerprints on the alleged murder weapon and his satisfactory conduct in prison, the court found no merit in suspending the sentence at this stage. The testimonies of key witnesses and crime scene evidence were deemed substantial in affirming the conviction.
The judgment has broader implications for the criminal justice system, as it urges the NCRB and court registries to collaborate on creating a more inclusive and accurate database of criminal cases. The court has set a future date for the submission of status reports from relevant authorities, indicating its commitment to advancing this initiative.
Bottom Line:
Integration of criminal antecedents data from Courts and complaint cases into NCRB portal suggested for comprehensive criminal justice system.
Statutory provision(s):
- Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Section 430, Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Parveen Taneja v. State of Nct of Delhi, (Delhi)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2850056
