Order

21/05/2025

1. While exercising its inherent jurisdiction under the provisions of Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) / Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC), this Court observed that, notwithstanding the repeated pronouncements of the Hon’ble Supreme Court unequivocally clarifying that civil disputes ought not to be given the colour of criminal proceedings, the police authorities continue to transgress their jurisdiction in such matters. Furthermore, it has been noted that subordinate courts are routinely passing mechanical orders under Section 175 of the BNSS / Section 156 of the CrPC. In light of the foregoing, and with the consent of the learned counsel representing the various petitioners, this Court deemed it appropriate to club the matters for the sake of convenience and effective adjudication.

2. In the matters at hand, learned Senior Counsel Mr. V.R. Bajwa, ably assisted by Mr. Nitin Jain, Advocate, appearing as amicus curiae, has submitted that pursuant to extensive deliberations, and in compliance of the erstwhile directions spelled out by this Court, the State has formulated a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) dated