S.Kanaga, W/O.Subramani, v. State Rep. By,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 14.12.2017
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH Crl.O.P.No.27798 of 2017
1. S.Kanaga
2. J.Mary Malar ... Petitioners Vs.
The State Rep by The Inspector of Police, Vaazhapadi Police Station, Salem District.
... Respondent PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. praying to direct the respondent police to register a First Information Report on the complaint dated 22.10.2017, investigate into the offences and file the final report before the appropriate Court in accordance with law within a time to be stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioners :
Mr.S.Sivasankar For Respondent :
Mr.C.Iyyapparaj Additional Public Prosecutor.
ORDER
This petition is filed seeking a direction to the respondent police to register a case on the basis of the petitioner's complaint dated 22.10.2017. 2.By consent of both sides, this Criminal Original Petition is taken up for final disposal.
3.The grievance of the petitioners is that inspite of a complaint given by them on 22.10.2017 to the respondent , 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 respondent is not justified in having received the complaint and keeping it unattended without any further action. In view of the same, the petitioners have 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 petitioners are directed to give a copy of the complaint dated 22.10.2017 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 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 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 closure 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 respondent's police station.
6. In the result, the Criminal Original Petition is allowed with the above directions.
14.12.2017 Index:Yes/No Internet: Yes/No cgi
M.S.RAMESH.J., cgi To
1. The Inspector of Police, Vaazhapadi Police Station, Salem District.
2.The Additional Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
Crl.O.P.No.27798 of 2017 14.12.2017