IGP told to form body to ensure CRO is maintained in modern way

The Sindh High Court on Friday directed the inspector general of police of the province to constitute a committee having the mandate to ensure that the criminal record office (CRO) data is maintained in a modern way, showing all stages of cases, enabling investigating officers to ascertain whether any accused involved in any other case is arrested or to ensure that the acquittal of an accused person is made part of the in the CRO record.

The direction came on a petition of Waqef Shah, who sought removal of his name from the CRO record after his acquittal in a theft and house trespassing case.

The petitioner submitted that he was arraigned in an FIR for an offence punishable under sections 380/457/34 PPC registered at the Gulshan-e-Maymar police station.

He submitted that after a full-fledged trial, the petitioner was acquitted of the charges; however, his name is still in the CRO.

According to the petitioner, the CRO record reflects criminal history though he has been exonerated/acquitted by the trial court, and in such eventuality, his name should be removed from the CRO record but the authorities are reluctant.

A high court division bench headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar observed that it appears that there is no mechanism to provide information in the CRO record with regard to the stage of the crime in terms whether the accused listed in the CRO has been arrested or is an absconder, whether the accused shown in the CRO has been acquitted or if proceedings have been abated or stopped by the trial court and whether the accused listed in the CRO is still facing trial.

The petitioner has submitted a mechanism to maintain the CRO record based on the criminal justice system in the United Kingdom. The court observed that this mechanism provides complete pro forma, which is worth appreciating.

The court observed that admittedly, the petitioner has been acquitted by the concerned court; therefore, his name shall be removed from the CRO record or shall be maintained with the acquittal by the concerned court with the date of the judgment within two weeks.

It said the concerned authorities shall upgrade the CRO system while keeping in view the mechanisms adopted by other countries, including UK.

The SHC also directed the IGP to constitute a committee having the mandate to ensure that the CRO record is maintained in a modern way, showing all stages of cases, enabling investigating officers to ascertain whether any accused involved in any other case is arrested and to ensure that the acquittal is flashed in the CRO record. The court directed that this exercise be completed within three months.