ORDER :

Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Additional Government Advocate.

2. The instant petition was initially preferred as a Public Interest Litigation. The matter on being listed before the Bench of the Hon’ble Chief Justice and Companion Judge, after perusing the petition, has been pleased to observe as under:

“The petitioners are the Associations of Jewelers. Therefore, the members of the petitioners are personally interested in the subject matter of this writ petition.

Hence, this petition cannot be treated as a public interest litigation. Treat this petition as an ordinary writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and shall place the same before the appropriate Bench.”

3. Pursuant to the said order of the PIL Bench, the matter is listed before this Court. The petitioners claim to be three Associations primarily representing the interest of Gems and Jewelry shop owners and the sum and substance of their case is that, in cases of theft and robbery involving the loss of gold, silver and other valuable and precious metals and stones, the Police Officers, more particularly, the Investigating Officers under the first respondent indulge in