Pramesh S Jain
In a significant move aimed at streamlining criminal investigations and ensuring legal compliance,the Karnataka Police Chief Dr.M.A.Saleem has issued a stringent Standing Order mandating a uniform procedure for handling case and counter-case investigations across the state.
The order,issued from the Office of the Director General and Inspector General of Police on Nrupathunga Road, comes in response to repeated lapses by field officers and follows strong observations by the Karnataka High Court.
Single Officer Rule Made Mandatory:
The Standing Order clearly directs that all case and counter-case matters—defined as disputes arising from the same incident involving rival parties—must be investigated by a single Investigating Officer (IO).
Authorities noted that multiple instances had surfaced where separate officers handled related cases independently,leading to contradictions and legal setbacks.
This directive aligns with a recent High Court ruling in Gajendra K.M vs State,where the court quashed proceedings citing improper investigation by different officers in linked cases.
Clear Protocols for Special Laws;
The order lays down specific guidelines for cases involving the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,1989.
If one of the cases invokes provisions of the Act,both the case and counter-case must be investigated by a DySP/ACP-level officer. Similarly, if one case is transferred to specialized wings like DCRE or CID,the counter-case must also be transferred to the same unit to maintain consistency.
Detailed Investigation Guidelines :
Investigating Officers have been instructed to:
Independently examine both cases to determine the origin of the dispute and identify the aggressor and defender.
File separate charge sheets while clearly mentioning the counter-case linkage.
Avoid premature filing of reports until both investigations are complete,except under exigent circumstances.
Attach copies of both police reports with each charge sheet for judicial clarity.
Accountability and Supervision:
The order places responsibility on unit heads—including Commissioners and Superintendents of Police—to ensure strict compliance.
Regular supervision and review of such cases have been made mandatory.
Importantly,the directive warns that departmental action will be initiated against officers if case and counter-case investigations are handled by different IOs in violation of the order.
Push for Legal Consistency:
This move is seen as an effort to eliminate procedural lapsed that often weaken prosecution cases in court.By enforcing a unified investigation approach,the state police aim to improve the quality of evidence,ensure fairness,and uphold judicial expectations.
The directive has been circulated to all senior police officials across Karnataka,including city commissioners, range IGs,district SPs,and CID units,with strict instructions for immediate implementation.
