High Court Issues Rule on Delays and Technical Failures in National Emergency Service 999
Photo Collected
The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule questioning the efficacy of the national emergency service 999, specifically regarding operational delays, the recurring rerouting of calls, and the failure to implement a “Zero FIR” system to ensure immediate police assistance.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Md. Habibul Gani and Justice Syed Mohammad Ziaul Karim issued the rule following an initial hearing on a writ petition. The petition was filed on August 17 by three Supreme Court lawyers—Sayka Kabir Jiti, Rahul Talukdar Parag, and Syeda Afroza Jerin—who alleged systemic failures in the emergency response mechanism.
The petitioners argued that the 999 service currently lacks integration with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, forcing callers to manually identify their locations. In many instances, the dispatch center fails to immediately determine the jurisdiction of the police station nearest to the incident, leading to unnecessary delays and call transfers. The petitioners asserted that the integration of GPS would significantly reduce response times and allow the public to access aid more efficiently.
Furthermore, the legal challenge addresses the refusal of police stations to record cases if the incident occurs outside their specific jurisdiction. The petitioners contended that in cases of cognizable offenses, such as robbery or rape, the failure to record a “Zero FIR”—which would allow any police station to initiate a case regardless of jurisdiction—risks the destruction of vital evidence and denies victims their right to prompt legal remedy.
The court’s rule asks the respondents to explain why the failure to modernize the 999 service, provide accurate location tracking, and implement a Zero FIR system should not be declared illegal. The Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director of the 999 Emergency Service, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting have been directed to respond to the rule within two weeks.
0%
0%
0%
0%
