VISHALAKSHI GOEL Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND ANR.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Counsel for the respondent No.2 submitted that the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Legal Cell, Police Headquarter, Delhi has already issued a Circular dated 20th November, 2019 regarding use of simple words instead of Urdu and Persian words while recording the FIR. Detailed list of Urdu words being used in FIR with their respective translation in Hindi and English at page No. 109 annexed with Circular dated 20th November, 2019 read as under:

(2.) The aforementioned Urdu/Persian words are being used mechanically by the Police without knowing the meaning thereof and without proper application of mind. FIR should be in the simplest language possible. It should be in the words of the person lodging the FIR. There is no need for Police to show their knowledge of Urdu and Persian words and these words should not be used by them mechanically without knowing their exact meaning. Moreover, public at large may not be able to understand all these Urdu or Persian words, therefore with every copy of the FIR, the aforementioned list is required to be supplied to a person seeking a copy of the FIR so that he/she can himself/herself see the translated version of Urdu and Persian words used in the FIR and understand the contents of the FIR. The aforementioned list may not be exhaustive as there can be other similar Urdu and Persian words being used in the FIR which are not mentioned in this list. The practice of using these words in the FIR ought to be stopped by the Police.

(3.) Looking to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, it appears that FIR is the most vital document prepared by Police as it sets the process of criminal justice in motion. In fact, copy of the FIR is required to be sent to the Magistrate immediately as it is an immediate version of the narration of the whole offence. In Court, FIR is required to be read time and again, hence, it should be in a simple language or it should be in the language of a person who has approached the Police for lodging of FIR.