Indian High Courts issue notices to senior police officials

Indian High Courts have issued notices to senior police officials regarding failures in judicial compliance and prosecutorial duties.

The Orissa High Court issued a contempt notice to former Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania. The notice follows a failure to comply with a court order to reinstate a female Sub-Inspector, Sagarika Parida. The court also noted that the department allegedly misled the court by suppressing its intention to appeal the reinstatement order to the Supreme Court.

Separately, the Punjab and Haryana High Court summoned the Director General of Police (Law and Order) due to systemic non-cooperation by official witnesses in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases. Justice Sumeet Goel observed that police personnel frequently fail to appear in court to provide evidence despite warrants, causing indefinite delays in trials and undermining the administration of criminal justice.