A Delhi court recently directed the Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) of the areas affected by the north-east Delhi riots to apprise Investigating Officers (IOs), dealing with cases related to the incident, about an older order that asks them to be present in court during the arguments and submission of charges in the matters.

Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala of the Karkardooma Court, who was hearing a case related to the Delhi riots on February 13, observed that neither the IO or the the Station House Officer in the case seemed to be aware of the order.

“Let ld. DCP (N/E) take suitable steps to apprise his subordinate officials about the instructions/guidelines/circulars/office orders issued by superior officers of the department and a mechanism be also evolved to fix the accountability for ignoring such orders,” he said.

In a hearing for the same case, held on December 17, 2024, the court noted that the IO was absent to answer queries regarding a number of video clips being used as evidence.

The IO had submitted that he was not aware that he needed to be present in court during the hearing.