People will no longer be required to pay any fee to download FIRs from the Punjab Saanjh Portal. The Punjab government has withdrawn its decision. Previously, the government had decided to impose a fee of ₹80 for downloading FIRs. Subsequently, the matter was taken to the High Court.
Advocate Vasu Ranjan Shandilya, Chairman of the Council of Lawyers, and Advocate Abhishek Malhotra, National Coordinator, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging the imposition of fees for downloading FIRs from the Saanjh Portal. The petition sought the quashing of the policy, the restoration of free digital access to FIRs and DDRs (Daily Diary Reports), and the refund—with interest—of the amount illegally collected from the petitioner.
The petition asserts that the imposition of such a fee constitutes a clear violation of Section 173(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which mandates the provision of a copy of the FIR free of cost. Furthermore, the Punjab Police Rules also stipulate that copies of FIRs must be provided without any charge. The petition also cites a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court, which emphasized the free and easy availability of FIRs to ensure transparency within the criminal justice system.
The petitioners have argued that charging a fee for access to FIRs creates an unreasonable barrier for the general public and constitutes a violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. The petition sought the quashing of the policy, the restoration of free digital access to FIRs and DDRs, and the refund—with interest—of the amount illegally collected from the petitioner.
