Supreme Court on Tuesday while pronouncing judgment in Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan's plea against Delhi High Court order Delhi Police listing him as a "history-sheeter" and of "bad character" in connection with a Waqf Bribery Case, has observed that the history sheet is an internal police document and the same should not be brought into public domain. The top court partly set aside the high court order upholdingh publication of 'history-sheet'.
The bench of Justice Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan also initiated a suo-motu case against the mechanical entries in the 'History Sheet' against the innocent individuals who hail from socially economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
The bench said that all the State governments are expected to take necessary preventive measures to protect such communities from being subject to targeting or prejudicial treatment. The bench further observed that there are some studies available in the public domain that reveal a pattern of unfair prejudicial and atrocious mindset.
"Case diaries are maintained selectively of individuals belonging to remote areas of Jati based or on caste basis in a somewhat similar manner as happened in colonial times." the court said.
In the previous hearing, the top court while deleting the names of minor relatives of AAP MLA from the history sheet had reserved the judgment.
The court had directed the Delhi Police to enforce the amended standing order dated March 21, 2024 and further ordered appointment of a senior police officer to audit the history sheets to ensure the maintenance of confidentiality and deletion of children's name.
Khan alleged that names of relatives, including minors, were given in the history sheet, which was leaked in the department and shared with other political parties, which affects their right to privacy and confidentiality.