Chhattisgarh HC Takes Suo Motu Cognisance of Report on ₹40-Crore ‘Dial 112’ Fleet Lying Idle, Directs DGP to File Affidavit
Safiya Malik
The High Court of Chhattisgarh Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru has taken suo motu cognisance of a news report revealing that 400 vehicles worth ₹40 crores, procured in 2023 for the Dial–112 emergency service, were left unused for nearly two years, causing damage to parts and reducing their operational life. Observing that this neglect led to avoidable repair costs of about ₹50,000 per vehicle and forced officers to bear expenses personally while new vehicles stood idle, the Court directed the Director General of Police to file a personal affidavit detailing the lapses and corrective measures.
The High Court of Chhattisgarh initiated a suo motu public interest litigation based on a news item published in Dainik Bhaskar on 21 September 2025. The report stated that in August 2023, the State had purchased 400 vehicles for the Dial–112 emergency service at an expenditure of ₹40 crores. Instead of being deployed, the vehicles remained parked for nearly two years, during which their tyres, batteries, and other parts suffered damage, reducing their effective lifespan.
In April 2025, an additional 325 vehicles were procured for police stations. However, rather than utilizing the new fleet, the police headquarters directed that the previously purchased and long-idle Dial–112 vehicles be repaired and sent to police stations. The newer vehicles were again kept parked. This practice resulted in unnecessary expenditure of about ₹50,000 per vehicle on repairs and servicing, while simultaneously reducing the permissible running life of diesel vehicles from ten to eight years.
The matter was registered as a suo motu PIL against the State of Chhattisgarh, represented through the Chief Secretary, the Secretary of the Home Department, the Director General of Police, the Collector of Raipur, and the Superintendent of Police of Raipur. The Advocate General and Deputy Advocate General appeared for the respondents, seeking one week’s time to obtain instructions. The issues raised related to administrative indecision, delays in tendering and agency selection, financial burden, and operational inconvenience to the police force. The petition thus centered on alleged mismanagement of public resources and vehicles meant for policing duties.
The Court observed that the news report revealed “in August 2023, as many as 400 vehicles were purchased for the Dial–112 service at a cost of Rs.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 effective lifespan.”
It recorded that in April 2025, “325 new vehicles were again procured for police stations, but rather than deploying them, the police headquarters issued directions for repairing the long-idle Dial–112 vehicles and sending them to the police stations, while the newly purchased vehicles were once again kept parked.”
The Court stated that “this peculiar practice not only entails avoidable expenditure of about Rs.50,000/- per vehicle towards repairs and servicing, but also shortens the permissible running life of diesel vehicles from ten years to eight years.”
It further noted that “the field situation is such that even the officers are compelled to spend from their own resources to keep the old, malfunctioning vehicles operational, while the new vehicles remain unused.”
The Court recorded that the position had 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.”
The Court directed that “the Director General of Police, State of Chhattisgarh, is hereby directed to file his personal affidavit, explaining in detail the circumstances which led to the procurement of new vehicles being left idle while older Dial–112 vehicles were deployed, the reasons for the delay in tendering and agency selection, and the administrative decisions that contributed to the financial loss and operational inconvenience.”
“The affidavit should also set out the concrete steps already taken or proposed to be taken to rectify the situation, ensure optimal utilization of all vehicles, prevent recurrence of such mismanagement, and safeguard the operational efficiency of the police force.” The matter was adjourned to 8 October 2025.
Advocates Representing the Parties
For the Petitioners: Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation
For the Respondents: Mr. Prafull N. Bharat, Advocate General, assisted by Mr. Shashank Thakur, Deputy Advocate General
Case Title: Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation Based on News Item Published in Dainik Bhaskar News Dated 21st September 2025
Case Number: WPPIL No. 88 of 2025
Bench: Justice Ramesh Sinha (Chief Justice), Justice Bibhu Datta Guru
