Madras High Court
Rettanai K.Gothandapani vs The Inspector Of Police on 20 September, 2017
Author: M.S.Ramesh
Bench: M.S.Ramesh
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 20.09.2017
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH
Crl.O.P.No.19727 of 2017
Rettanai K.Gothandapani .. Petitioner
Vs.
1. The Inspector of Police,
C-1, Tindivanam Police Station,
Tindivanam,
Villupuram District.
2. The Superintendent of Police,
Villupuram District, Villupuram. .. Respondent
PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. praying to direct the first respondent to register a case based on the report dated 15.07.2017 given by the petitioner to the first respondent and investigate the same.
For Petitioner : Mr.K.Selvarangan
For Respondent : Mr.P.Govindarajan
Additional Public Prosecutor.
ORDER
This petition is filed seeking a direction to the first respondent to register a case based on the report dated 15.07.2017 given by the petitioner to the first respondent and investigate the same.
2.By consent of both sides, this Criminal Original Petition is taken up for final disposal.
3.The grievance of the petitioner is that inspite of a complaint given by him on 15.07.2017 to the first respondent , the same has been kept in abeyance without any action. It is well settled in the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari Vs. Government of Uttar Pradesh and others [2013 (6) CTC 353], that registration of an FIR is mandatory under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure if an information furnished to the police officer disclose commission of a cognizable offence and in cases where the information does not disclose a cognizable offence, a preliminary enquiry has to be conducted.
4. The first respondent is not justified in having received the complaint and keeping it unattended without any further action. In view of the same, the petitioner has made out a case for this Court to invoke its inherent powers under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Hence, the first respondent is directed as follows:
1)If the information received by the first respondent discloses commission of a cognizable offence, then, the same shall be forthwith registered.
2)If an information received does not disclose a cognizable offence, the first respondent shall conduct a preliminary inquiry to ascertain whether cognizable offence is disclosed therein or not and such inquiry shall be completed within a period of seven days from the date of information.
3) If the inquiry discloses the commission of a cognizable offence, the FIR must be registered, if not already registered or closed.
4) If the preliminary inquiry ends in closing the complaint, the disclosure report must be recorded along with the reasonings and a copy of the same shall be furnished to the complainant within one week.
5)All information relating to cognizable offences whether resulting in registration of FIR or leading an inquiry must be reflected in the general diary/station diary/daily diary of the first respondent's police station.
M.S.RAMESH.J, aav
5.In the result, the Criminal Original Petition is allowed with the above directions.
20.09.2017 Index:Yes/No Internet: yes/No aav To
1. The Inspector of Police, C-1, Tindivanam Police Station, Tindivanam, Villupuram District.
2. The Superintendent of Police, Villupuram District, Villupuram.
2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
Crl.O.P.No.19727 of 2017