Mumbai: Bombay high court on Thursday asked the state DGP to submit a report on what form of punishment is applicable to a police officer who violates rules and circulars on procedures when carrying out an investigation.The DGP is to inform HC by Oct 9 whether the punishment is to be a ‘minor’ one, such as withholding of remuneration for three years, or a more serious kind of action can be initiated, said a bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Kamal Khata.HC set aside a show-cause notice issued by Palghar SP issued to an SI for not maintaining a proper record, including the station diary, in a probe over the alleged assault of a Palghar hospital staffer on Sept 5 over the treatment of some govindas injured during a dahi handi celebration. The notice had asked the SI to show why he should not be punished by stopping his remuneration for three years.The bench observed that it regularly comes across such cases.On Sept 11, HC had expressed its displeasure at the “lackadaisical manner” in which the investigation was carried out. “A bare perusal of spot panchnama/scene of offence panchnama prima facie indicates that it is good for nothing,” it had said.On Thursday, state public prosecutor Shishir Hiray said the SI was issued a show-cause notice. HC said the state was unable to cite the exact provision based on which the three-year punishment was proposed. Hiray cited the provision under the Maharashtra police manual.Senior counsel Ashok Mundargi, amicus Curiae (friend of court), said 22 arrests have been shown in the case and he hoped they did not include the govindas who had sought treatment. Hiray said the govindas were not among those arrested.Meanwhile, HC was informed in the suo motu PIL in the Dombivli doctors’ assault case that charges have been framed in the case and the trial would be expedited.Indian Medical Association, through its senior counsel S U Kamdar, had earlier said assaulting doctors and hospital staffers performing their duties is a very sensitive issue. “It has now become a trend among people to take the law into their hands. Some unscrupulous elements of society use this practice to exhibit their prowess over helpless and vulnerable doctors and hospital staff,” it had said.
