No rules laid down for missing mobiles

There are chances that if you file a complaint with the police about a missing item, for example, your mobile phone, the complaint may just remain as a record in their books. As per the police's own admission, there are no guidelines laid down as to what action the police is supposed to undertake when a complaint is filed about a missing item.

The issue was brought to light when a reply was given by a Public Information Officer (PIO) to an RTI applicant and the State Information Commission (SIC). The commission, however, has directed the PIO to approach the police commissioner's office to get more clarity on the issue.

DNA had earlier reported about SIC directing the police to provide details of the register that keeps track of missing items (mobile phones), police commissioner or DGP's letter on what the police is supposed to do when they receive such complaints, and the report that is prepared in such cases.

The order was passed after the police failed to provide information to RTI applicant Mahendra Dharod. During the second appeal, the SIC directed the police department to provide information about the 'register of missing articles' that contains such information, orders of police commissioners on how to go about investigating such missing articles and the letter that police stations provide the officers. When the order did not comply, a complaint was filed.

During the hearing on non-compliance of this order, Ajitkumar Jain, the State Information Commissioner (Brihanmumbai bench) had asked the commission's assistant secretary to conduct an inquiry, and call for all the details and provide them to the applicant. It also said that rules and the opinion on them be provided to the SIC.

However, in his reply, the PIO provided directions issued by the commissioner's office in 2005, which only show recording of the complaint, giving a copy of the complaint, disbursing information to the police, and senior officers verifying on a daily basis the entry made on missing items, and then sign it.

"There is no direction or circular on what needs to be done by the police. When a person files a complaint, they hope at some point in time it will be found. However, the police only make a note, give a certificate and do nothing about it. They should be made to lodge a FIR and conduct an inquiry. The police ideally should have a separate department considering the increase in cases of missing mobile phones," said Dharod. The commission in its order has also said it is unlikely that there will not be any guidelines laid down on the issue.