The court mandates involvement of the Station House Officer for identity verification in petitions to defreeze bank accounts.

Dated this the 13th day of February, 2026 ORDER Soumen Sen, C.J.

Heard Ms.Nayanpally Ramola, learned counsel for the Petitioner and Mr.P.Narayanan, learned Special Government Pleader.

2. The Registry is directed not to accept any writ petition or other petition in which a prayer is made for defreezing of the bank accounts, unless the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Police Station having jurisdiction over the area of the petitioner’s address is impleaded as a party respondent. In all such matters, before any order is passed, the learned Public Prosecutor shall ascertain the proper identity of the writ petitioner through the SHO of the concerned Police Station and insist upon the filing of an affidavit by the SHO establishing the identity of the writ petitioner.

3. The Registrar General is directed to circulate this order to the Director General of Police (DGP) for information and compliance. The Registry shall act in terms of this order. The Registrar General shall also circulate this order among all the Hon’ble Judges of this Court.

4. The DGP is further directed to circulate this order to all the SHOs, the Superintendents of Correctional Homes and the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Prisons for compliance.

This JPP is accordingly disposed of.

Sd/-