One of my clients recently had a case which I am explaining below and if you are stuck in such similar situation, here is what to do.
Note: Due to attorney-client privilege, I cannot disclose complete case details or identify the actual parties involved. However, I am sharing the essential facts and legal approach so that if you find yourself in a similar situation, you can understand the available solutions and legal remedies.
TL;DR: If a state police PCC portal is not sending the OTP, you are not without options. Escalate through the police helpdesk, the state public grievance portal, and the cyber cell, and if that still fails, your advocate can file a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution before the High Court seeking a direction to issue the certificate.
Aarav Mehta, a 19-year-old student from Lucknow, was applying for a domicile certificate for his college admission. One of the documents required was a Police Clearance Certificate from the Uttar Pradesh Police PCC portal. He tried logging in for nearly two weeks in April 2025, but the OTP never arrived. Not by SMS, not by email. The Applicant Login page simply refused to work.
He called the helpline. He wrote to the helpdesk. He even visited the local police station. Every time, the answer was the same: "It's a technical issue." Days passed and his admission deadline inched closer.
That's when he approached the Chamber of Advocate Sudhir Rao. The earlier non-specialist attempts had clearly not worked. His office examined the portal logs, drafted a formal legal notice to the police headquarters, and filed a writ petition before the Allahabad High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution.
Within ten days of the Court's interim direction, the OTP mechanism was restored and the Police Clearance Certificate was issued. Advocate Sudhir Rao's expertise in this domain helped secure the order in favour of the client.
Key Facts of the Case
- The applicant needed a PCC solely for a domicile certificate required for college admission.
- The state police PCC portal did not generate any OTP on the Applicant Login page for around 12 days.
- Repeated calls to the helpline, emails to the helpdesk, and a visit to the local police station produced no result.
- The applicant approached the Chamber of Advocate Sudhir Rao only after these initial efforts failed.
- A writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution was filed before the Allahabad High Court seeking a direction to the police authorities.
- The High Court directed the authorities to ensure the portal functioned and the PCC was issued within a fixed timeline.
- Once the portal was fixed, the certificate was generated and handed over within the deadline set by the Court.
The Direct Legal Answer
What should you do if the PCC portal is not sending the OTP?
First, wait 30 to 60 minutes and try again. Sometimes the system is simply delayed. Check spam folders and try a different browser or incognito mode. If the OTP still does not appear, contact the state police technical helpdesk and file a grievance on the official public grievance portal.
Is there an official way to get it resolved quickly?
Yes. The state police have an IT and cyber cell that handles portal complaints. You can also approach the District Magistrate or the Superintendent of Police with a written representation. If none of these work, a lawyer can send a legal notice and, if needed, file a writ petition in the High Court for a writ of mandamus.
Can a court really force the police to fix a technical glitch?
Courts do not fix software bugs directly. But they can direct the concerned authority to take immediate steps to ensure the certificate is issued. In a writ petition, the court can order the police to process the application and report back on compliance. That is exactly what worked in the case described here.
Advice in Such Cases
Do not wait for the college deadline to pass. A portal glitch is not your fault, but the burden of proof and follow-up falls on you. Document every attempt you make, keep screenshots, and note down call references. Then act quickly.
Consult with Lawyer: The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation to come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think.
Make no mistake, this category of matter involves procedural and evidentiary nuances — like proving repeated attempts, showing urgency, and choosing the right forum. A general practitioner who rarely handles administrative writs may miss the specific strategy that works best. An advocate who regularly handles such service-delivery and public-authority cases is likely to get faster results.
Applicable Sections of Law
Although this is not a typical civil suit, the legal framework that applies here is grounded in constitutional and statutory remedies:
- Article 226 of the Constitution of India — empowers the High Court to issue writs, including mandamus, directing public authorities to perform their legal duties.
- Article 21 of the Constitution of India — the right to life and education is read broadly, and an unreasonable delay in issuing a certificate that blocks college admission can raise a due-process concern.
- Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — you can file an RTI application seeking the status of your PCC application and the reason for the portal failure.
- The state's public services guarantee legislation — most states now have a law requiring designated services to be provided within a fixed time, with an appeal mechanism for delays.
Limitation Period
For a writ petition under Article 226, there is no fixed statutory limitation period. However, courts expect you to approach them within a reasonable time. Unjustified delay can make a court refuse relief on the ground of laches. If you choose to file a civil suit for a mandatory injunction, the limitation period is three years from the date the right to sue accrues, under the Limitation Act, 1963. In practical terms, the sooner you act, the stronger your case.
Interim Reliefs Available
In a writ petition, you can seek an interim direction from the High Court asking the police to process your application or at least restore the portal function pending final disposal. In a civil suit, Order 39 Rules 1 and 2 of the CPC allows temporary injunctions, though such suits are less common for portal failures. Interim relief matters because it protects your college admission timeline while the larger issue gets resolved.
If You Are the Victim
- Act immediately. Do not wait for the deadline to approach.
- Screen-shot every failed OTP attempt and save SMS/email logs.
- Lodge a formal complaint on the state public grievance portal.
- Send a written representation to the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police, with a clear request for a time-bound resolution of the portal issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file an FIR against the police for not fixing the portal?
No. A technical glitch or delay in issuing a certificate is not a cognizable criminal offence. The correct legal remedy is to file a representation, use an RTI application to obtain the status, and if necessary, approach the High Court under Article 226 for a writ of mandamus. Filing an FIR without a criminal element would only waste your time and police resources.
Will the court award compensation for the delay?
In appropriate cases, where there is gross negligence or deliberate inaction by a public authority, courts have awarded compensation. However, in an OTP failure case, the primary relief is a direction to issue the certificate within a fixed time. You can also seek costs against the authority if your litigation became necessary because of its inaction.
Is a written legal notice necessary before filing a writ petition?
A legal notice is not a mandatory precondition for a writ petition. However, sending a formal notice through your advocate often gets the authorities to act quickly, because it signals that you are ready to litigate. It also provides documentary proof of your efforts when you later approach the High Court.
How long does an Article 226 petition take to get an interim order?
In urgent matters, the High Court can hear an interim application within a few days of filing. The court may issue a direction that the application be processed or that the cause of the portal failure be reported. Final disposal of the writ may take longer, but an early interim direction usually brings immediate results.
Disclaimer: This article is general legal information only. It is not legal advice, and it does not create an advocate-client relationship. For advice on your specific facts, consult a qualified advocate.
Advocate Sudhir Rao, Supreme Court of India
Facing a similar matter? Speak to a criminal lawyer in Delhi — Advocate Sudhir Rao appears in bail, trial and appellate matters before the Delhi District Courts, the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India.