The court directed the DCP (West) to take "appropriate action" in the matter.

A Delhi court criticised the police for merely sending summons to government witnesses through WhatsApp and referred the matter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (West District) for "appropriate action". Additional Sessions Judge Hemraj is hearing a murder case registered at Punjabi Bagh police station in which the prosecution now has to produce evidence.

The judge said one of the prosecution witnesses was absent and did not respond to repeated calls. He said the Delhi Police Commissioner had passed an order in February last year regarding summoning of witnesses.

In another case, the court also noted that a letter has been received from DCP (West) stating that no circular has been issued to Delhi Police to send summons through WhatsApp. "In the past also, this court has noticed in many cases that police officers are sending summons to witnesses on WhatsApp," Justice Hemraj said.

He said police officials were still sending summons to government witnesses "only on WhatsApp". "They are not taking the trouble of visiting witnesses' houses, which they should do. The police officers did not make a single attempt to visit the witness's house even though they should have visited the witness's house at least three times," he said.

The court directed the DCP (West) to take "appropriate action" in the matter. The court also issued notices to the concerned police officials to appear before it and sought an explanation from them as to why appropriate action should not be taken against them under the provisions of the Delhi Police Act and the Indian Penal Code.

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