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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
Subhash Vidyarthi, J.
Santosh Kumar @ Santosh Kumar Verma – Applicant
Versus
State of U.P. Thru. Prin.Secy. Deptt. of Home and Another – Opposite Parties
Application U/S 482 No. - 13 of 2024
Decided On : 05-01-2024
Section 156(3) Cr.P.C - Application for Registration of Complaint - Police Investigation and Report - Court's Authority to Order Investigation
Fact of the Case:
The applicant challenged the validity of an order registering an application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C as a complaint and summoning the applicant to face trial for alleged offences under Sections 452, 323, 506, and 354 I.P.C.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the police acted beyond their authority by carrying out an investigation and submitting a report to the Magistrate without the registration of an F.I.R. The court emphasized that the police can investigate a cognizable offence under Section 156(1) only after the registration of an F.I.R, and without registration of an F.I.R, the police cannot initiate any investigation.
Issues: Validity of registering an application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C as a complaint, authority of the police to carry out investigation without the registration of an F.I.R, and the court's power to order investigation under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C.
Ratio Decidendi: The police can investigate a cognizable offence under Section 156(1) only after the registration of an F.I.R, and without registration of an F.I.R, the police cannot initiate any investigation. The court has the authority to order investigation under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C, and the police is not expected to carry out the investigation into the allegations levelled in the application filed before the court without a direction to this effect being issued by the court.
Final Decision: The court rejected the application, stating that the application lacked merits.
JUDGMENT :
1. Heard Sri Shitesh Jha, the learned counsel for the applicant and Sri Arun Kumar Verma, the learned A.G.A for the State.
2. By means of an instant application filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C, the applicant has assailed validity of an order dated 20.10.2022 passed by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Court No. 25, Barabanki in Miscellaneous Application No. 347 of 2022, ordering an application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C filed by the opposite party no.2 to be registered as an complaint. The applicant has also assailed validity of an order dated 27.07.2023 passed by the aforesaid court summoning the applicant to face the trial court for commission of offences under Sections 452, 323, 506 and 354 I.P.C.
3. The submission of the learned counsel for the applicant is that on the application under section 156(3) filed in the court, a report was called for and the police has submitted a report dated 20.09.2022 stating that the applicant has filed an F.I.R No. 456 of 2022 under Sections 34, 323, 354, 504, 506, 452 I.P.C in P.S Masauli, District Barabanki.
4. After lodging of the aforesaid F.I.R., some persons from the other side again attacked the applicant's house in the night of 14.08.2022 regarding which another F.I.R No. 467 of 2022 under Sections 34, 323, 386, 504, 506 I.P.C. has been lodged. The police reported that the application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C has been filed to put pressure on the applicant. The report also stated that the incident alleged in the application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C could not be established in investigation and the allegations were found to be false and baseless. Towards the closure of the report, it was stated that no case has been registered regarding the incident lodged in the complaint.
5. The learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that a co-accused Dr. Chandra Kant Verma has filed an application under Section 482 Cr.P.C No. 10672 of 2023 in which an interim order has been passed on 01.11.2023.
6. The learned A.G.A has opposed the application and he has submitted that while deciding an application under section 482 Cr.P.C., this court cannot hold a mini trial to adjudicate upon the correctness of the allegation.
7. I have considered the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case and the submissions advanced by the learned counsel for the applicant.
8. In the application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C, the opposite party no.2 alleged commission of a cognizable offence by six accused persons and it was further stated in the application that the applicant had given an application to the Superintendent of Police, Barabanki, but no action was taken in furtherance thereof.
9. While submitting a report on this application, the police is merely required to intimate where any case has been registered on the basis of the allegations levelled in the compliant or not. When the application is pending consideration of the court, the police is not expected to carry out the investigation into the allegations levelled in the application filed before the court, without a direction to this effect being issued by the court.
10. The police may investigate a cognizable offence under Section 156(1), after registration of an F.I.R under Section 154 Cr.P.C but without registration of an F.I.R, the police cannot initiate any investigation. When no F.I.R was registered and merely an application under Section 156(3) was filed, investigation can be carried out under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C only under an order passed by a Magistrate. Therefore, the police has acted beyond authority in carrying out an investigation and submitting a report to the Magistrate that the allegations levelled in the complaint could not be established.
11. In the case of Central Bureau of Investigation vs. Aryan Singh Etc., 2023 SCC Online 379, the compliant has been registered and the applicant has been summoned to face the trial, he can raise all the pleas available to him and submit evidence in his defense and the correctness o
AI
The police can investigate a cognizable offence under Section 156(1) only after the registration of an F.I.R, and the court has the authority to order investigation under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C.
Direction for Police Investigation – Option to direct registration of case and its investigation by police should be exercised where some “investigation” is required, which is of a nature that is not....
The Magistrate has discretion under Section 156(3) of the CrPC to determine whether to direct an investigation, particularly in civil disputes masquerading as criminal matters.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the discretion of the Magistrate under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. to allow or refuse an application and the requirement for judicial reasoning in exerc....
The duty of the Magistrate to apply judicial mind while directing the registration of FIRs, and the consequences of filing frivolous and vexatious proceedings.
The High Court reiterated that the exercise of inherent powers to direct FIR registration is an exception and requires clear demonstration of error or injustice.
Applications under Section 156(3) of Cr.P.C. must be supported by a sworn affidavit to ensure accountability and prevent misuse of judicial authority.
The Magistrate must judiciously exercise discretion in registering FIRs under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C., ensuring that mechanical refusals are avoided when cognizable offences are disclosed.
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