The Punjab government has once again taken a U-turn on a key administrative decision, withdrawing the recently introduced ₹80 fee for downloading First Information Reports (FIRs) from the Punjab Police website.
The department has officially cancelled the earlier notification related to the fee and issued fresh orders restoring free access to FIR downloads.
Decision Faced Strong Opposition
The decision to charge citizens for downloading FIR copies had triggered widespread criticism. Legal experts and members of the public termed the move an unnecessary financial burden on citizens seeking access to public documents.
Lawyers challenged the government’s decision in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, arguing that an FIR is a public document and charging a fee for accessing it is unjustified.
Legal Challenge in High Court
In a petition filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, advocates Abhishek Malhotra and Vasu Ranjan Shandilya stated that Punjab Police was charging ₹80 for downloading FIRs through the “Saanjh” portal and mobile application, calling the practice unreasonable.
The petition argued that under existing legal provisions, victims or complainants must receive a copy of the FIR free of cost.
Supreme Court Guidelines Cited
The lawyers also referred to earlier Supreme Court observations stating that FIRs should be registered online so that citizens can view and download them free of charge. Older police regulations similarly specify that no fee should be charged for providing FIR copies.
Government Withdraws Order
Facing growing public pressure and legal complications, the Punjab government ultimately decided to withdraw the notification and reinstate free access to FIR downloads.
The latest move is expected to provide relief to citizens and ensure transparency in access to police records.
