MANOJ Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Learned counsel for the petitioner is directed to place on record the complete set of charge-sheet along with bail applications.

(2.) During the course of hearing of several bail applications, it came to the notice of this Court that illegible and unreadable carbon copies/xerox copies of charge-sheets are being provided to the accused at the time of its submission before the trial Court.

(3.) In this view of the matter, the Director General of Police is directed to instruct all concerned SHO's of the State of Rajasthan for providing legible copies of charge-sheet under the statutory provisions of Sec. 173 and 207 of the CrPC, to every accused. At the same time, this Court deem it appropriate to direct the concerned sub-ordinate Courts to check and verify that the copies being provided by the investigating agency to the accused, are legible. Since getting a copy of charge-sheet is akin to a fundamental right as every accused has a right to know the nature of accusation in which his liberty has been curtailed or he has been forced to face the rigour of the trial. In this regard, statutory provision contained under Sec. 173 of CrPC and Sec. 202 of CrPC are very much clear.