Mumbai Police Allows You to Start the Complaint Process Online

The Mumbai Police are kickstarting a website where people needed to file complaints can do so by logging on to www.maharashtra.gov.in. Once you file a complaint, the service will send you an SMS reply with the acknowledgment of receipt of the complaint and with an e-complaint number. The e-complaint will in no way be a replacement for a First Information Report (FIR) but after filing the complaint online, the police department will set an appointment with the individual to file an FIR.

Rajkumar Vhatkar, deputy commissioner police (Operations) told Mumbai Mirror, “The best part of this e-complaint facility is that every e-complaint will have accountability. As the complaint progresses, the complainant will be informed at each and every stage.” 

While this seems like a good idea to organize complaints, it doesn't necessarily mean complaints will be addressed more efficiently. A pending status on a complaint is as frustrating on paper as it is electronically and if every e-complaint has accountability, why doesn't every paper complaint already? The only purpose electronic-izing complaints should serve is an environmental one, not necessarily one of efficiency. So, while this is definitely a step forward on the evolution ladder, it isn't necessarily making the correct statement.