4000 criminal cases under probe for years!

​Hyderabad: In a startling revelation, more than 4000 criminal cases are under investigation with occurrence of delay in the finalisation of post mortem and other medical reports necessary for filing charge-sheets in courts. The delay is attributed to lack of coordination among the Police, Transport, Medical and Health departments.  The cases are mostly rapes, murders, accidents and suspicious deaths.  

This issue came to light at the meeting between Chief Secretary SK Joshi and DGP M Mahendar Reddy during a video conference with District Collectors on Tuesday. The Chief Secretary questioned the officials for the delay in the preparation of post mortem and medical reports.

The district authorities informed that there was no mechanism in existence for speedy completion of the investigation as the departments concerned took their own time in furnishing the information sought by the investigation authorities. For instance, the Road Transport Authority (RTA) is consuming a lot of time to issue fitness certificate of the vehicles which meet with accidents in which people are killed. Without fitness certificate, police will not be able to file charge-sheet in the courts.  

The Medical and Health department officials have given least importance in preparation of post mortem reports as the doctors concerned always are busy with their regular duties.   Taking serious note of the increasing number of cases being under investigation, Joshi instructed the authorities to create a multi-disciplinary mechanism involving key departments to address the issue on priority basis. 

The Chief Secretary also instructed the DGP to create a coordination wing in every major police station with other departments to complete the investigation in a time-bound manner. Collectors are also told to hold a meeting with the three departments and establish a mechanism in every district.  Joshi instructed the officials to submit status report on pending cases and the progress in creation of new mechanism in the next meeting to be held in August first week.