Mr. T.Dinesh, v. Commissioner Of Police,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 31.10.2017
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH Crl.O.P.No.23180 of 2017 T.Dinesh ... Petitioner Vs.
1. The Commissioner of Police, 132, Commissioner Office Building, EVK Sampath Road, Vepery, Periamet, Chennai - 600 007.
2. Assistant Commissioner of Police, E-3, Police Station Campus, Teynampet, Chennai - 600 018.
3. The Inspector of Police, E3, Teynampet Police Stain, Chennai.
... Respondents PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. praying to direct the respondent herein above to register the complaint dated 27.03.2017 in accordance with law (particularly as per provisions of The Scheduled Case and Scheduled Tribe (prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 [As Amended by Act No.1 of 2016, w.e.f. 26.01.2016] a cognizable offence).
For Petitioner : Mr.R.Sankarasubbu For Respondents : Mr.C.Iyyapparaj Additional Public Prosecutor
ORDER
This petition is filed seeking a direction to the respondent police to register the petitioner's complaint dated 27.03.2017 and conduct an investigation in accordance with law.
2.By consent of both sides, this Criminal Original Petition is taken up for final disposal.
3.The grievance of the petitioner is that inspite of a complaint given by him on 27.03.2017 to the respondents, the same has been kept in abeyance without any action. It is well settled in the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Lalita
Kumari Vs. Government of Uttar Pradesh and others [2013 (6) CTC 353], that registration of an FIR is mandatory under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure if an information furnished to the police officer disclose commission of a cognizable offence and in cases where the information does not disclose a cognizable offence, a preliminary enquiry has to be conducted.
4. The third respondent is not justified in having received the complaint and keeping it unattended without any further action. In view of the same, the petitioner has made out a case for this Court to invoke its inherent powers under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
5.In the result, the petitioner is directed to give a copy of the complaint dated 27.03.2017 to the Station House Officer having territorial jurisdiction over the issue. On receipt of the said copy of the complaint, the concerned Station House Officer shall adhere to the following directions.
1)If the information received by the third respondent discloses commission of a cognizable offence, then, the same shall be forthwith registered.
2)If an information received does not disclose a cognizable offence, the third respondent shall conduct a preliminary inquiry to ascertain whether cognizable offence is disclosed therein or not and such inquiry shall be completed within a period of fifteen days from the date of information.
3) If the inquiry discloses the commission of a cognizable offence, the FIR must be registered, if not already registered or closed.
4) If the preliminary inquiry ends in closing the complaint, the disclosure report must be recorded along with the reasonings and a copy of the same shall be furnished to the complainant within one week.
5)All information relating to cognizable offences whether resulting in registration of FIR or leading an inquiry must be reflected in the general diary/station diary/daily diary of the third respondent's police station.
6. In the result, the Criminal Original Petition is allowed with the above directions.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CCC) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar rts
To
1. The Commissioner of Police, 132, Commissioner Office Building, EVK Sampath Road, Vepery, Periamet, Chennai - 600 007.
2. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, E-3, Police Station Campus, Teynampet, Chennai - 600 018.
3. The Inspector of Police, E3, Teynampet Police Stain, Chennai.
4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
+1cc to Mr.R.Sankarasubbu, Advocate, S.R.No.77463 Crl.O.P.No.23180 of 2017 AD(CO) CA(15/11/2017)