Indian Supreme Court Orders Police FIRs in Cognizable Offences Akola Riots

The policing watchdog, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke, has urged police forces to distinguish clearly between offensive conduct and criminal behavior, advocating for the cessation of recording non-crime hate incidents to restore public confidence. He emphasized the need for common sense and discretion in policing, particularly concerning social media, where current laws may be outdated and complicate enforcement. This call follows controversy over the arrest of comedy writer Graham Linehan by armed officers for tweets on trans issues, an incident Sir Andy criticized as poor public optics and indicative of the need for policing to focus on serious crimes and neighborhood engagement. Sir Andy stressed that allowing free expression without fear of legal repercussions is crucial, while still addressing threats to life and serious offences. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India has underscored law enforcement’s duty to register FIRs promptly upon disclosure of cognizable offences, ordering a Special Investigation Team to probe alleged police negligence during the 2023 Akola riots in Maharashtra. These developments highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring police accountability and balancing public safety with civil liberties.