Vinod Kumar @ Akhtar v. State of Punjab and Another

o o CRM-M-48441-2018o o o o o o 1oCRM 48441 2018 o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o o o ooooooo ooooooCRM-M-48441-2018o o VinodoKumaro@oAkhtarooooo o o o o o o o ....Petitionerooo V/so StateoofoPunjaboandoanotherooo o o o o o ....Respondentso DateoofoReserve:o11.02.2026o DateoofoPronouncement:ooo05.03.2026o DateoofoUploadingo:oo05.03.2026o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oAniloKumaroGarg,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o Mr.oAdhirajoSinghoThind,oAAGoPunjab.o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o

1.o o Theo petitionero haso invokedo theo inherento jurisdictiono ofo thiso Courto undero Sectiono 482o ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedureo seekingo quashingoofotheoQalandraopresentedoagainstohimounderoSectiono66oofotheo Punjabo Policeo Act,o 2007o titledo aso Stateo througho S.H.O.o P.S.o Haibowal,o LudhianaoversusoVinodoKumaro@oAkhtaropendingobeforeotheolearnedoCourto ofo Judicialo Magistrateo Isto Class,o Ludhiana,o (hereinaftero referredo too aso 'ImpugnedoQalandra')oalongowithoallotheoconsequentialoproceedingsoarisingo therefromoincludingotheoorderodatedo11.06.2018owherebyonoticeowasoissuedo tootheopetitioner.o

2.o o Shornoofonon-essentialodetails,otheorelevantofactualomatrixoofotheo lisoinohandoisoadumbratedothus:o o o CRM-M-48441-2018o o o o o o 2oCRM 48441 2018 o

(i)oo o Theopetitioneroclaimsotoobeoaosocialoworkerowhoohadosubmittedo representationsotootheoauthoritiesoallegingomisuseooforeservationobenefitsobyoao certainoindividualowhoowasostatedotoohaveosecuredopublicoemploymentoonotheo basisoofoanoOBCocertificate.oTheopetitioneroplacedocertainodocumentsobeforeo theocompetentoauthoritiesoandosoughtoanoenquiry.oTheomatterowasoexaminedo byo theo concernedo welfareo authorities,o whoo opinedo thato noo actiono foro cancellationo ofo theo certificateo waso required.o Theo petitionero thereaftero submittedofurtherorepresentationsotoohigheropoliceoauthorities.o

(ii)o o Pursuantotootheosaidorepresentations,oanoenquiryowasoconductedo atotheoleveloofotheoofficeoofotheoCommissioneroofoPolice,oLudhianaothroughoao senioro policeo officer.o Theo enquiryo reporto concludedo thato theo allegationso levelledobyotheopetitionerowereonotosubstantiatedoandofurtheroopinedothatotheo complaintohadotheoeffectoofocastingoaspersionsouponoaoJudicialoOfficer.oOno theobasisoofotheosaido report,odirectionso wereoissuedo tootheoStationo Houseo OfficeroforoinitiatingoproceedingsounderoSectiono66oofotheoPunjaboPoliceoAct,o 2007,owhereuponotheoimpugnedoImpugnedoQalandraowasofiledobeforeotheo learnedo Magistrate.o Theo learnedo Magistrate,o ono presentationo ofo theo ImpugnedoQalandra,opassedoaobriefoorderoregisteringotheosameoandoissuedo noticeotootheopetitioner.o o o Itoisoinotheoaforesaidofactualomilieuoofotheocaseoinohand,otheo petitionerohasoapproachedothisoCourtobyowayoofotheopetitionoinohand.oo

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero haso iteratedo thato theo impugnedo proceedingso areo withouto jurisdictiono inasmucho aso theo originalo complaintohasobeenomadeotooaosuperioropoliceoauthorityoandowasoenquiredo intoo ato thato level.o Learnedo counselo haso furthero iteratedo thato ifo ato allo theo complaintowasofoundotoobeofalse,oanyoactionocouldoonlyohaveobeenoinitiatedo o o CRM-M-48441-2018o o o o o o 3oCRM 48441 2018 o byo theo authorityo beforeo whomo theo complainto waso madeoorobyo ano officero administrativelyosuperiorotheretooandonotobyoanoofficeroofoanoinferiororank.o Learnedo counselo haso emphasizedo thato theo learnedo Magistrateo haso mechanicallyoissuedonoticeowithoutoexaminingotheolegalobarocontainedoino Sectiono 195o Cr.P.C.o ando withouto consideringo theo lawo laido downo byo theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinoP.D.oLakhanioandoanotheroversusoStateoofo Punjabo ando another,o 2008o (2)o RCRo (Criminal)o 838.o o Furthermore,o theo impugnedoproceedingsoareotheoresultoofobiasoandohaveobeenoinitiatedoonlyotoo pressurizeotheopetitioner,owhoohadoactedoasoaowhistle-blower.oItohasobeeno furtherosubmittedothatotheoenquiryoreportowasopreparedobehindotheobackoofo theo petitionero withouto affordingo himo anyo opportunityo ofo hearing.o Eveno serviceoofonoticeowasonotoeffectedoinoaccordanceowitholawoandotheopetitionero wasocompelledotooappearobeforeotheoCourtothroughoaopoliceoofficial.ooOno theseopremises,olearnedocounselohasoprayedothatotheoImpugnedoQalandraoando alloconsequentialoproceedingsoarisingotherefromobeoquashedotoopreventoabuseo ofotheoprocessoofolaw.oo

4.o o Perocontra,olearnedoStateocounselohasoopposedotheopetitionoino handoandohasosubmittedothatotheoImpugnedoQalandraohasobeenofiledostrictlyo inoaccordanceowitholawoandotheosameodoesonotosufferofromoanyoillegalityooro jurisdictionalo error.o Learnedo Stateo counselo haso iteratedo thato theo enquiryo conductedobyotheopoliceoauthoritiesorevealedothatotheoallegationsolevelledobyo theopetitioneroagainstoaoservingoJudicialoOfficerowereofoundotoobeofalseoando motivatedo&otheosameohasotheoeffectoofoloweringotheodignityoofoaopublico servanto holdingo ao higho office.o Ino sucho circumstances,o theo competento authorityodirectedoinitiationoofoproceedingsounderoSectiono66oofotheoPunjabo PoliceoAct,o2007oandotheoStationoHouseoOfficeromerelyoactedouponotheosaido o o CRM-M-48441-2018o o o o o o 4oCRM 48441 2018 o directions.oItohasobeenofurtheroarguedothatotheoSHO,obeingoanoauthorizedo officero ofo theo policeo stationo concerned,o waso competento too presento theo ImpugnedoQalandraobeforeotheolearnedoMagistrateoandotheosameocannotobeo saido too beo withouto jurisdiction.o o Furthermore,o theo petitionero haso ano efficaciousoalternativeoremedyobeforeotheotrialoCourtotooraiseoallolegaloando factualo pleas,o includingo theo questiono ofo maintainability.o Learnedo Stateo counselohasofurtherosubmittedothatotheopowerounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C.oisotoo beoexercisedosparinglyoandoonlyoinocasesowhereothereoisoaopatentoabuseoofo processo oro whereo theo allegationso doo noto discloseo anyo offence.o Sinceo theo enquiryo reporto clearlyo recordso thato theo petitionero madeo falseo ando unsubstantiatedoallegationsoagainstoaopublicoservant,otheoImpugnedoQalandrao discloseso ao primao facieo case,o theo dismissalo ofo theo instanto petitiono iso canvassedofor.oo

5.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheoavailableorecord.oo

6.o o TheoissueothatoarisesoforocogitationobeforeothisoCourtoisowhethero theoImpugnedoQalandraopresentedobyotheoStationoHouseoOfficeropursuantotoo anoenquiryoconductedobyosuperioropoliceoauthoritiesoisomaintainableoinolaw.o Theo schemeo ofo Sectiono 195o Cr.P.C.o clearlyo mandateso thato ino respecto ofo certaino offenceso relatingo too publico justice,o cognizanceo cano beo takeno onlyo uponoaocomplaintoinowritingoofotheopublicoservantoconcernedooroofoaopublico servantotoowhomoheoisoadministrativelyosubordinate.oTheolegislativeointentoiso tooensureothatoprosecutionsoforoallegedofalseocomplaintsoorooffencesoaffectingo administrationoofojusticeoareonotoinitiatedoatotheoinstanceoofoofficersoloweroino hierarchyothanotheoauthorityobeforeowhomotheoallegedofalseocomplaintowaso made.oInotheopresentocase,oitoisonotoinodisputeothatotheorepresentationsoofotheo o o CRM-M-48441-2018o o o o o o 5oCRM 48441 2018 o petitionerowereoaddressedotootheoCommissioneroofoPoliceoandotheoenquiryo wasoconductedobyoaosenioroofficeroatothatolevel.oIfotheocomplaintowasofoundotoo beo false,o theo lawo requiredo thato anyo consequentialo proceeding(s)o oughto too haveo beeno initiatedo byo theo authorityo concernedo oro byo ano officero administrativelyo superioro thereto.o Theo initiationo ofo proceedingso byo theo StationoHouseoOfficer,owhooisoadmittedlyosubordinateoinotheohierarchy,oiso contraryotootheomandateoofoSectiono195oCr.P.C.ooAoprofitableoreferenceoino thisoregardoisomadeotootheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoP.D.o LakhanioandoanotheroversusoStateoofoPunjaboandoanother,o2008o(2)oRCRo (Criminal)o838,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:oo(Criminal)o838 o "13.oo Noo complaint,o therefore,o couldo beo lodgedo beforeo theo learnedo MagistrateobyotheoStationoHouseoOfficer.oEvenoassumingothatotheosameo waso doneo undero theo directionso ofo Senioro Superintendento ofo Police,o Jallandhar,o Sectiono 195,o ino noo uncertaino terms,o directso filingo ofo ano appropriateocomplaintopetitionoonlyobyotheopublicoservantoconcernedoorohiso superioroofficer.oIt,otherefore,ocannotobeodoneobyoanoinferioroofficer.oItodoeso notoprovideoforodelegationoofotheofunctionoofotheopublicoservantoconcerned.o Weomayonoticeothatoinotermsoofosub-sectiono(3)oofoSectiono340oofotheo Code,oaocomplaintomayobeosignedobyosuchoanoofficeroasotheoHighoCourto mayoappointoifotheocomplaintoisomadeobyotheoHighoCourt.oButoinoalloothero cases,otheosameoisotoobeodoneobyotheopresidingoofficeroofotheocourtoorobyo suchoofficeroofotheocourtoasoitomayoauthorizeoinowritingoinothisobehalf.o Legislature,o thus,o wherevero thoughto necessaryo too empowero ao courto oro publicoservantotoodelegateohisopower,omadeoprovisionsotherefor.oAsotheo statuteo doeso noto contemplateo delegationo ofo hiso powero byo theo Senioro Superintendento ofo Police,o weo cannoto assumeo thato thereo existso sucho ao provision.oAopowerotoodelegate,owhenoaocompleteobaroisocreated,omustobeo express;o ito beingo noto ano incidentalo power.o

14.oo Ino Daulato Ramo v.o Stateo ofo Punjabo [(1962)o 2o SCRo 812],o Hidayatullah,oJ.o(asotheolearnedoJudgeothenowas),oheldoasounder:o o "Inoouroopinion,othisoisonotoaodueocomplianceowithotheoprovisionsoofo thatosection.oWhatotheosectionocontemplatesoisothatotheocomplainto mustobeoinowritingobyotheopublicoservantoconcernedoandothereoisonoo suchocomplianceoinothisocase."o o o CRM-M-48441-2018o o o o o o 6oCRM 48441 2018 o o o TheosaidodecisionowasofollowedobyoaoDivisionoBenchoofothisoCourto o inoStateoofoU.P.ov.oMataoBhikho&oOrs.o[(1994)o4oSCCo95],ostating:o o "AocursoryoreadingoofoSectiono195(1)(a)omakesooutothatoinocaseoao publicoservantoconcernedowhoohasopromulgatedoanoorderowhichohaso notobeenoobeyedoorowhichohasobeenodisobeyed,odoesonotopreferotoo giveoaocomplaintoororefusesotoogiveoaocomplaintothenoitoisoopenotoo theo superioro publico servanto too whomo theo officero whoo initiallyo passedo theo ordero iso administrativelyo subordinateo too prefero ao complaintoinorespectoofotheodisobedienceoofotheoorderopromulgatedo byohisosubordinate.oTheowordosubordinateomeansoadministrativelyo subordinate,o i.e.,o someo othero publico servanto whoo iso hiso officialo superioroandounderowhoseoadministrativeocontroloheoworks."o

7.o o Theo aboveo ratioo decidendio clearlyo reflectso thato whereo ao complaintoisomadeotooaosuperioroofficeroandosubsequentlyouponoinvestigationo isofoundotoobeofalse,oanyocomplaintoforoprosecutionomustoemanateofromothato veryoauthorityooroaosuperioroauthorityoandonotofromoanoofficeroofoaolowero rank.oTheoratiooofoP.D.oLakhanio(supra)osquarelyoappliesotootheofactsoofotheo presentocase.ooFurthermore,otheoorderodatedo11.06.2018opassedobyotheolearnedo MagistrateoreflectsothatotheoImpugnedoQalandraowasoregisteredoandonoticeo wasoissuedoinoaoroutineomannerowithoutoexaminingotheostatutoryobaroando withoutoapplicationoofojudicialomindotootheoquestionoofomaintainability.oIno theoconsideredoopinionoofothisoCourt,otheorequirementoofodueoconsiderationoato theostageoofotakingocognizanceocannotobeotreatedoasoaoroutineoformality.ooItoiso borneooutofromotheorecordothatotheopetitionerohadoapproachedotheoauthoritieso byowayooforepresentation(s)oonoaomatterowhich,oaccordingotoohim,oinvolvedo publicointerest.oWhetherotheoallegationsowereoultimatelyofoundotoobeocorrecto oro noto iso ao differento matter,o buto theo recourseo too criminalo processo ino theo manneroadoptedoinotheopresentocaseoappearsotoobeoaomisuseoofotheostatutoryo provisions.oAccordingly,othisoCourtoisoofotheoconsideredoopinionothatotheo Impugnedo Qalandrao presentedo byo theo Stationo Houseo Officero iso noto o o CRM-M-48441-2018o o o o o o 7oCRM 48441 2018 o maintainableoinolawoandotheocontinuationoofotheoproceedingsowouldoamounto tooabuseoofotheoprocessoofotheoCourt.o

8.o o Atothisostage,othisoCourtodeemsoitoappropriateotooclarifyothatotheo quashingo ofo theo Impugnedo Qalandrao ando subsequento proceedingso arisingo therefrom,o byo wayo ofo thiso Ordero doeso not,o byo anyo stretcho ofo legalo imagination,ooperateoasoaoperpetualoinjunctionoagainstotheostateotoomoveoao freshocomplaintooroaograntoofoabsoluteoimmunityotootheopetitioner.oTheoinstanto adjudicationoisopredicatedosolelyouponotheostatutoryobarocontainedoinoSectiono 195oCr.P.C.,owhichonecessitatesothatoaocomplaintobeoinitiatedoonlyobyotheo publicoservantospecifiedotherein.o o o Thiso Courto haso noto delvedo intoo theo factualo culpabilityo oro innocenceoofotheoPetitioner,oandothusotheoinstantoOrderodoesonotoclotheotheo petitionerowithotheomantleoofoao'meritoriousoacquittal'.oTheointerferenceobyo thisoCourtoactsotoovindicateotheodueoprocessoofolaworatherothanotooprovideoao finalo absolutiono ofo theo allegedo acts.o Too allowo ao prosecutiono too continueo despiteoaoclearoviolationoofomandatoryoprovisionsoofoSectiono195oCr.P.C.,o wouldo beo too ignoreo jurisdictionalo defect,o yeto too baro ao furthero lawfulo prosecutiono (ifo any)o wouldo beo too defeato theo endso ofo justiceo ono ao mereo technicalo windfall.o Byo wayo ofo instanto order,o theo prosecutiono iso merelyo relegatedotooreturnotootheostatusoquooanteo(i.e.otootheostageobeforeofilingoofotheo ImpugnedoQalandraoandoitoisoopenoforotheoconcernedoauthority(s)otooproceedo againoinoaccordanceowitholaw.oErgo,otheoquashingoofotheoImpugnedoQalandrao onotheogroundsoofoaojurisdictionalodefectounderoSectiono195oCr.P.C.odoesonoto operateoasoaobarotoosubsequentolegaloaction.oAsothisoCourtohasonotoadjudicatedo uponotheofactualomeritsoorotheoinnocenceoofotheoPetitioner,otheoStateoremainso o o CRM-M-48441-2018o o o o o o 8oCRM 48441 2018 o atolibertyotooinitiateoaofreshocomplaintooroQalandraoinostrictoaccordanceowitho theoprescribedostatutoryoprocedure.o

9.o o ThisoCourtoisocognizantoofoalarmingoproliferationoofofrivolouso ando vexatiouso complainto whereo baselesso allegationso areo routinelyo weaponizedo too unsettleo theo administrationo ofo justice.o Too prevento theo machineryoofolawofromobeingotransmutedointooanoinstrumentoofoharassment,o theolegislature,oinoitsothoughtfulness,ohasoenactedospecificosafeguardsoinotheo formoofoSectiono66oPunjaboPoliceoAct,o2007;oSectiono182oIPC,o1860;oSectiono 217oBNS,o2023.oPertinently,otheolegislatureohasoalsooprovidedoforospecialo procedureotoobeofollowedoinoprosecutionoofotheseooffencesoinoSectiono195o Cr.P.C./215o BNSS.o Theo requirementso containedo ino Sectiono 195o Cr.P.C./Sectiono 215o BNSSo areo noto mereo directoryo buto areo mandatoryo jurisdictionalopre-requisite.o o o Regrettably,o ito haso beeno observedo thato theseo proceduralo mandateso areo frequentlyo bypassedo oro treatedo witho ao senseo ofo casualo indifference.o Ino theo instanto case,o theo filingo ofo theo Impugnedo Qalandrao withouto adherenceo too theo strictureso ofo Sectiono 195o Cr.P.C.o representso ao textbooko exampleo ofo proceduralo dereliction,o renderingo theo entireo prosecutorialoexerciseoaobrutumofulmenothatounnecessarilyosquandersojudicialo timeoandostateoresources.o

9.1.o o Ito iso pertinento too noteo hereino thato filingo ofo Qalandrao byo theo policeo undero Sectiono 195o ofo theo Cr.P.C.o iso noto ao perfunctoryo proceduralo ritual,obutoaosubstantiveoexerciseoofosovereignopoweroaimedoatovindicatingo theomajestyoofotheolaw.oWhileotheoprovisionoisocouchedoinorestrictiveoterms,o stipulatingothato"Noocourtoshallotakeocognizance….",othisostatutoryobaroisonoto intendedotoostifleotheoendsoofojustice.oRather,oitoactsoasoaosentineloonotheoquio o o CRM-M-48441-2018o o o o o o 9oCRM 48441 2018 o vive,o ensuringo thato theo machineryo ofo lawo iso triggeredo exclusivelyo byo theo concernedopublicoauthorityotoopreventoprivateovendettasofromocloggingotheo wheelsoofojusticeoinomattersowhereotheoStateoisotheoprimaryoaggrievedoparty.o Inothisolight,oSectiono195oofotheoCr.P.C.,otranscendsoitsoroleoasoaorestrictiveo shieldoandoemergesoasoanoenablingomandate,oempoweringotheoStateotooactoaso theocustodianoofopublicoorderoandotheoparensopatriaeoofotheoadministrationoofo justice.o Ino caseso involvingo personalo oro proprietaryo harm,o theo individualo grievanceo typicallyo driveso theo litigation;o however,o whereo theo offenceo iso directedoagainstotheolawfuloauthorityoofoaopublicoservantoorotheosanctityoofo judicialo proceedings,o thereo iso ofteno noo 'individualo victim'o too pursueo theo cause.oInosuchoinstances,otheoStateomustonotoremainoaomuteospectatorooroacto withoaosenseoofolethargyothatoreducesoaosolemnostatutoryoobligationotooaomereo formality.oTheofilingoofoaoQalandraorepresentsotheodischargeoofoaostatutorilyo imposedodutyothatomustobeopermeatedowithodueodiligenceoandoaohighodegreeo ofoprofessionaloresponsibility.oTootreatothisoprocessoasoaosecondaryotaskoisotoo inviteoaoStateoofoAnomieoandotooerodeotheoimperiumoofotheoState.oErgo,otheo publicoservant,oactingoonobehalfoofotheoState,omustorealizeothatotheyoareotheo soleo guardianso ofo theo legalo thresholdo ino theseo matters.o Anyo delayo oro lackadaisicalo approacho ino filingo theo Qalandrao noto onlyo undermineso theo efficiencyo ofo theo administrationo buto alsoo grantso ao deo factoo immunityo too offenders,o therebyo compromisingo theo Ruleo ofo law.o Consequently,o theo initiationoofotheseoproceedingsomustobeocharacterizedobyodueodiligenceoando anounwaveringocommitmentotoobringingooffencesoagainstotheopublicoauthorityo toojustice.o

9.2.o o Consequently,othisoCourtofindsoitoimperativeotooissueoremedialo directionsotooarrestothisoproceduralolaxity.oTheoDirectoroGeneraloofoPolice,o o o CRM-M-48441-2018o o o o o o 10oCRM 48441 2018 10 o Punjaboisoherebyodirectedotooinstitutionaliseoaocomprehensiveosensitisationo programmeoforoallopoliceoofficialsowithinotheoStateoofoPunjabotooensureostricto adherenceowithomandatoryoprovisionsoofoSectiono195oCr.P.C./Sectiono215o BNSS.oFurthermore,otheoDirectoroGeneraloofoPolice,oPunjaboshalloconductoao formaloinquiryotooascertainowhetherotheofilingoofotheoImpugnedoQalandraobyo theo concernedo SHOo waso ao resulto ofo bona-fideo professionalo erroro oro waso motivatedobyomalafideointentionsooroulterioroconsideration.o

10.o o Inoviewoofotheoprevenientoratiocination,oitoisoordainedothus:o

(i)o o TheopetitionoinohandoisoallowedoandotheoKalandraounderoSectiono 66oofotheoPunjaboPoliceoAct,o2007otitledoStateothroughoS.H.O.oP.S.oHaibowal,o LudhianaoversusoVinodoKumaro@oAkhtaropendingobeforeotheolearnedoCourto ofoJudicialoMagistrateoIstoClass,oLudhianaoandoalloconsequentialoproceedingso arisingotherefrom,oincludingotheoorderodatedo11.06.2018oissuingonoticeotootheo petitioner,oareoherebyoquashed.o

(ii)o o Ao detailedo complianceo reporto reo directionso issuedo (ibid);o includingobutonotolimitedotootheosystematicomeasuresoadoptedobyotheoDirectoro GeneraloofoPolice,oPunjaboforosensitization;oshallobeofiledobeforeoRegistraro GeneraloofothisoCourtowithino06oweeksofromotoday.oo

(iii)o o Nothingoobservedohereinoshallobeoconstruedoasoanoexpressionoofo opinionoonotheomeritsoofotheoallegationsomadeobyotheopetitioneroinohisooriginalo representationsoand/orotheomeritsoofotheoQalandraofiledobyoState.o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o oooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo ooo oooJUDGEo Marchoo05,o2026o Ajay/mahaviro Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo MAHAVIR SINGH Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo