The Delhi Police has walked back from its earlier stance on virtual testimonies, issuing a fresh circular that brings its officers back into the witness box—physically.
“All police officers and personnel shall now appear before the courts in person for deposition and evidence,” the order declared, carrying the stamp of approval from the city’s Police Commissioner.
This shift follows weeks of simmering tension inside the capital’s trial courts. Lawyers had bristled at the police move to turn every station in Delhi into a video-conferencing hub for witness depositions. To them, the arrangement reeked of convenience for the police and compromise for justice.
The August 13 notification sparked boycotts, with lawyers striking between August 22 and 28. The agitation eased only after the withdrawal of the order and assurances of dialogue from the Home Minister himself.
But when, on September 4, the police quietly revived the idea—this time limiting it to formal witnesses and subject to judicial discretion—tempers flared again.
Now, with the latest circular, the message is clearer: no more shortcuts. Police witnesses will stand before the bench, not a screen. Whether this truce holds in the long run remains to be seen, but for now, the courtroom returns to its old rhythm—face to face.
