June 2, 2009 12:37:33 am
The Delhi High Court is contemplating contempt proceedings against the DCP (Headquarters) of the Delhi Police for filing a false affidavit. Justice J R Midha has taken the DCP to task for an incorrect statement in an affidavit about compliance of Section 158 (6) of the Motor Vehicle Act. An unconditional apology from the officer did not soften the courts stance and he was directed to file his response by June 3.
A show cause notice is issued initially to the DCP to show why action for contempt should not be initiated against him, the Bench ordered. It sought another affidavit from the police giving the names of officers responsible for non-compliance of the order.
A legal provision in the Motor Vehicle Act prescribes it is the duty of an SHO to forward Accidents Information Report of every accident to the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunals within 30 days. A Supreme Court judgment in July 2007 had ordered strict compliance of this provision across the country.
A plea from the Delhi Police that it shall be strictly comply with Section 158 (6) in future and an assurance to streamline the system so that victims of road accidents get compensation expeditiously did not cut any ice with the court.
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The court had on April 21 directed the police to place on record a detailed report with data on Accidents Information Reports made since July 2009. Instead of complying with the HC order,the DCP filed an affidavit with the allegedly false information that there were strictly following the legal provision.
The actual state of affairs came to light with the MACTs subsequently submitting before the Bench that it had not received the reports for the past 22 months.
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