<p>First Information Reports (FIRs) registered at any police station in Karnataka will be available online from November 15 onwards. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Police have formed an expert team to redress technical challenges to transfer the FIR data from offline to online platform as per a Supreme Court directive. On September 7, 2016, the top court directed all states and union territories to upload, on police or government websites, FIRs within 24 hours of their registration to uphold the right of a suspect to information and to keep tabs on police authority to deprive a person of their liberty. <br /><br />“An expert team is redressing challenges to create a staging server to which data from the secure intranet portal will be transferred. We hope to comply with the Supreme Court directive by November 15,” ADGP (Crime and Technical Services) Bhaskar Rao told DH. <br /><br />Once the initiative becomes operational, anyone can download a copy of an FIR on the Karnataka police website. But not all FIRs will be available. “FIRs related to terrorism, rape, molestation and sensational incidents will not be uploaded. We need to maintain confidentiality on these issues and protect the identity of victims and complainants in public interest,” Rao said. <br /><br />The State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) regularly uploads FIRs on PoliceIT, an in-house software used by the police. Uploaded FIRs, however, are not available to public. “We issue a copy of the FIR on prior request,” Rao added. Bengaluru Police Commissioner, N S Megharikh, told DH, “We forward the FIRs registered in Bengaluru to the SCRB. We started sharing the FIRs on PoliceIT a few years ago.” FIRs registered in Bengaluru will be available on the state police website. <br /><br />Senior police officers were critical of the Supreme Court directive, though they admitted that it ensured transparency in administration. “Anti-social elements may misuse the FIR information to threaten victims and suspects, leading to extortion. <br /><br />Sometimes, FIRs may be used to tarnish the image of innocent persons whose names are similar with those of suspects,” a senior officer said on condition of anonymity. <br /> </p>
<p>First Information Reports (FIRs) registered at any police station in Karnataka will be available online from November 15 onwards. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Police have formed an expert team to redress technical challenges to transfer the FIR data from offline to online platform as per a Supreme Court directive. On September 7, 2016, the top court directed all states and union territories to upload, on police or government websites, FIRs within 24 hours of their registration to uphold the right of a suspect to information and to keep tabs on police authority to deprive a person of their liberty. <br /><br />“An expert team is redressing challenges to create a staging server to which data from the secure intranet portal will be transferred. We hope to comply with the Supreme Court directive by November 15,” ADGP (Crime and Technical Services) Bhaskar Rao told DH. <br /><br />Once the initiative becomes operational, anyone can download a copy of an FIR on the Karnataka police website. But not all FIRs will be available. “FIRs related to terrorism, rape, molestation and sensational incidents will not be uploaded. We need to maintain confidentiality on these issues and protect the identity of victims and complainants in public interest,” Rao said. <br /><br />The State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) regularly uploads FIRs on PoliceIT, an in-house software used by the police. Uploaded FIRs, however, are not available to public. “We issue a copy of the FIR on prior request,” Rao added. Bengaluru Police Commissioner, N S Megharikh, told DH, “We forward the FIRs registered in Bengaluru to the SCRB. We started sharing the FIRs on PoliceIT a few years ago.” FIRs registered in Bengaluru will be available on the state police website. <br /><br />Senior police officers were critical of the Supreme Court directive, though they admitted that it ensured transparency in administration. “Anti-social elements may misuse the FIR information to threaten victims and suspects, leading to extortion. <br /><br />Sometimes, FIRs may be used to tarnish the image of innocent persons whose names are similar with those of suspects,” a senior officer said on condition of anonymity. <br /> </p>
