Punjab & Haryana High Court Slams 15-Year Delay by Punjab Police in Filing Cancellation Report; ₹1 Lakh Cost Imposed

In a case titled Kimti Lal @ Kimti Lal Bhagat v. State of Punjab, the Punjab & Haryana High Court censured the Punjab Police for an “inordinate and unjustified” delay of 15 years in filing a cancellation report in a criminal case. Live Law The FIR—under Sections 323, 341, 506 and 34 IPC—was registered in 2007. A compromise was arrived at soon after, and a cancellation report was prepared between 2007-09, but the investigating agency failed to present it until the High Court intervention. Justice Sumeet Goel emphasized that while law does not mandate a fixed time for presenting final or cancellation reports, discretion must be exercised diligently; delay of such magnitude undermines procedural safeguards for both victim and accused, and erodes trust in justice. The Court observed that the duty to prosecute is not merely a privilege but a constitutional and statutory obligation. The Punjab Government was ordered to pay ₹1,00,000 in costs. The DGP has reportedly initiated actions against concerned officials and issued corrective instructions via a circular.