Chhattisgarh HC Takes Suo Motu Cognisance of ₹40 Crore Police Vehicle Mismanagement [Read Order]

Chhatisgarh: The Chhattisgarh High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of gross mismanagement in the state police department, where 400 vehicles worth ₹40 crore, purchased for the Dial-112 service, remained parked and unused for nearly two years, causing significant damage and financial loss to the state exchequer.

Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru expressed serious concern over the “peculiar practice” that has resulted in avoidable expenditure and operational inefficiency in police functioning.

The court registered WPPIL No. 88 of 2025 based on a news report published in Dainik Bhaskar on September 21, 2025, exposing the administrative dysfunction. The court noted, “This suo motu public interest litigation petition has been registered on the basis of a news report published on 21.09.2025 in the Hindi daily newspaper, namely Dainik Bhaskar.”

The revelations highlight a pattern of administrative negligence where vehicles purchased in August 2023 for the emergency Dial-112 service were left unused, leading to deterioration of tyres, batteries, and other components. The court observed, “As many as 400 vehicles were purchased for the Dial–112 service at a cost of ₹40 crore, yet instead of being put to use, they remained parked for nearly two years, during which period several of them suffered damage to tyres, batteries and other parts, thereby reducing their operational lifespan.”

The mismanagement became more glaring when the state procured an additional 325 new vehicles in April 2025 for police stations. Instead of deploying these, the police headquarters directed that the long-idle Dial-112 vehicles be repaired and sent to stations, while the newly purchased vehicles were kept parked again.

The court highlighted the financial implications of this administrative bungling, stating, “This peculiar practice not only entails avoidable expenditure of about ₹50,000 per vehicle towards repairs and servicing, but also shortens the permissible running life of diesel vehicles from ten years to eight years.”

The bench expressed particular concern about the impact on field officers compelled to spend from their own resources to maintain old, malfunctioning vehicles while new ones remain unused. The court noted, “The field situation is such that even officers are compelled to spend from their own resources to keep the old, malfunctioning vehicles operational, while the new vehicles remain unused.”

The court identified the root cause as administrative indecision, observing, “The position has arisen on account of indecision in the matter of tendering and agency selection, which has resulted in administrative delay, financial burden and operational inconvenience in police functioning.”

In a stern directive, the court ordered the Director General of Police to file a personal affidavit explaining why newly procured vehicles were left idle while older Dial-112 vehicles were deployed. The court further demanded comprehensive answers regarding delay in tendering and agency selection, administrative decisions that caused financial loss, and concrete steps to rectify the situation. The affidavit must also address measures to “ensure optimal utilization of all vehicles, prevent recurrence of such mismanagement, and safeguard the operational efficiency of the police force.”

The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 8, 2025.

Mr. Prafull N. Bharat, Advocate General, appeared with Mr. Shashank Thakur, Deputy Advocate General, for the state and sought time to obtain necessary instructions.

Case Title: Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation vs. State of Chhattisgarh & Others

[Read Order]