Chandigarh: In a major policy reversal, the Punjab government withdrew its controversial decision to charge citizens an ₹80 service fee for downloading First Information Reports (FIRs) from the Saanjh portal. The quick retreat follows a wave of criticism from legal activists, opposition parties, and a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A fresh notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Department of Good Governance and IT) DK Tiwari, with the approval of the Punjab Governor, clarified that no charges will be levied for downloading FIRs online or obtaining copies from physical Saanjh Kendras.
The initial plan to monetize FIR access, which was set to begin on March 23, was met with immediate resistance. High Court lawyers Abhishek Malhotra and others filed a PIL arguing that charging for a public document creates a barrier to justice, particularly for economically weaker sections. Critics, including Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, noted that the fee violated the spirit of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Youth Bar Association of India case, which established that free 24-hour digital access to FIRs is a fundamental aspect of the Right to Life and Liberty under Article 21.
While the Home Department had originally pushed for the fee—alongside a ₹100 charge for Daily Diary Reports (DDR)—the Department of Good Governance and IT moved swiftly to quash the order following the public outcry. The Saanjh portal is a critical utility in the state, having recorded over 41.7 lakh FIR downloads to date. Legal experts and activists like Gagan Preet Singh have welcomed the withdrawal, reiterating that an FIR is a public document and should never be treated as a commodity.
