IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

2025 INSC 515 EXTRAORDINARY APPELLATE JURISDICTION SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (Crl.) No.520/2021 B.S YEDDIYURAPPA Petitioner(s)

VERSUS A ALAM PASHA & ORS. Respondent(s)

WITH SLP(Crl) No. 758/2021 SLP(Crl) No. 2318/2021 SLP(Crl) No. 2753/2021 SLP(Crl) No. 3372/2021 SLP(Crl) No. 9361/2021 SLP(Crl) No. 8675/2022 SLP(Crl) No. 5333-5347/2016 O R D E R

1. We heard these matters at length across several dates inter and concluded the hearing on 04.04.2025 framing, alia , the following questions for our consideration:

I. What are the relevant considerations as contemplated by Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for short, “the PC Act”) which the appropriate authority or government is expected to look into before the grant of approval for initiation of any enquiry, inquiry, or investigation by the police?

II. Whether the considerations which weigh with the appropriate authority or government while granting approval under Section 17A of the PC Act are fundamentally so different from the one that a Magistrate is ordinarily expected to apply while passing an order under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short, “the Cr.P.C.”) so as