Court rules that uploading charge-sheets online is not required by law and could interfere with judicial processes.
In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to mandate the uploading of charge-sheets on the official website of the Uttar Pradesh State Police. The judgment, delivered on January 5, 2026, by a bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary, emphasized that such a requirement is neither mandated by law nor reasonable.
The PIL, filed by Mohd. Irfan Siddiqui in 2020, requested the court to issue a mandamus directing the state authorities to upload each charge-sheet prepared by investigating officers within 24 hours on the state police's official website. Additionally, it sought a directive for the provision of certified copies of these charge-sheets to the accused or their representatives within the same timeframe.
The court found that uploading charge-sheets online could interfere with ongoing court proceedings and potentially violate the rights of the accused, victims, and investigating agencies. It further clarified that charge-sheets and accompanying documents do not qualify as public documents under Section 74 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. The court dismissed the reliance on the Right to Information Act, 2005, for seeking such disclosures, stating that the provisions of the RTI Act were misapplied in this context.
The judgment referenced a Supreme Court decision in Saurav Das v. Union of India (2023), which similarly declined a request for public access to charge-sheets and final reports. The Supreme Court had reasoned that making such documents publicly accessible would contravene the scheme of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, and could infringe upon the rights of involved parties.
In its ruling, the Allahabad High Court reiterated that the dissemination of charge-sheets should be confined to the judicial process and those directly involved in the case. It emphasized that the existing legal framework under Sections 173 and 207 of the Criminal Procedure Code already provides a mechanism for the accused to receive relevant documents, negating the need for public disclosure.
The court's decision underscores the balance between transparency and the protection of legal rights within the judicial process. It reinforces the principle that not all documents related to legal proceedings are suitable for public access, especially when they could impact the fair administration of justice.
Bottom Line:
Uploading charge-sheets prepared by investigating officers on the official website of the State Police is not mandated by law and is considered unreasonable, as it may interfere in the court processes and violate rights of the accused, victims, and investigating agencies.
Statutory provision(s): Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (Section 173), Evidence Act, 1872 (Sections 74, 76), Right To Information Act, 2005 (Sections 4(1), 4(2)).
Mohd. Irfan Siddiqui v. State of U.P., (Allahabad)(Lucknow)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2833882
