GHULAM ABBAS vs S.H.O. POLICE STATION DARRI and 2 others
This criminal application was filed to challenge the order of the V-Additional Sessions Judge/Justice of Peace, Larkana, which dismissed the applicant's application under Sections 22-A and 22-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR). The applicant alleged that the proposed accused extorted Rs. 30,000 from him, constituting a cognizable offence. The High Court of Sindh examined whether a Justice of Peace is required to call for a police report or deeply evaluate the merits of a case before ordering the registration of an FIR. The Court held that when the facts narrated by a complainant disclose a cognizable offence, the Station House Officer is legally bound to register the case under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. The Justice of Peace is only required to form an independent opinion on whether the facts disclose a cognizable offence, without conducting a deep inquiry into the merits or issuing unnecessary notices. Consequently, the High Court set aside the impugned order and directed the SHO to record the applicant's statement and register the FIR if a cognizable offence is disclosed.
- Is a Justice of Peace required to call for a police report before deciding an application for the registration of an FIR under Sections 22-A and 22-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898?
- Can a Station House Officer refuse to register an FIR if the information narrated by the complainant discloses a cognizable offence?
- Should a Justice of Peace deeply evaluate the merits and demerits of a case when deciding an application for the registration of an FIR?
- Section 22-A, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 22-B, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 154, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
ORDER
' AFTAB AHMED GORAR, J.---The applicant has impugned Order dated 24-5-2013, passed by learned V-Additional sessions Judge/Justice of Peace, Larkana, whereby he has dismissed an application under sections 22-A and 22-B, Cr.P.C. Filed by the applicant for getting orders for registration of his F.I.R.
2. Learned counsel submits that, the applicant approached to sHO concerned for registration of F.I.R. In respect of an incident occurred on 30-4-2013, for extorting an amount of Rs.30,000 from him by the proposed accused, but he was refused, therefore, he approached Ex-Officio Justice of Peace concerned, by filing an application under sections 22-A and 22-B, Cr.P.C. Learned counsel further submitted that the contents of his application narrate facts of a cognizable offence, even then the Justice of Peace did not consider his application and at-first he called report from the sHO concerned, which is not necessary and unwarranted under the law. Learned counsel further submitted the Justice of Peace while deciding the application of the applicant has deeply gone into merits and demerits of the case, though he was only supposed to form an opinion about the offence being cognizable or non-cognizable from the facts narrated to him by the complainant orally or in writing and for such purpose, he is not required to issue notice to accused or to police officer or to anybody else; he has to form his own independent opinion from the facts narrated to him. Per learned counsel, the station House Officer had absolutely no power to refuse to register the case if from the information/statement of complainant a cognizable offence was made out, and it was for the Investigating Officer to thresh out the truth during course of investigation. Learned counsel in support of his contentions relied upon PLD 2005 Karachi 621 and 2012 M LD 736.
3. On the other hand, learned state Counsel frankly conceded to the above submissions.
Accordingly, in view of the submissions made by the learned counsel for the applicant and the dictum laid down in the cases (supra), the instant application stands allowed, and the impugned order dated 24-5-2013, is hereby set aside. The sHO concerned is directed to record statement of the applicant, and if from contents of his statement a cognizable offence is made out; enter it into 154, Cr.P.C. Book and proceed in accordance with law. However, if during course of investigation the information furnished by the applicant in his statement is found false, then proceedings under relevant law may be initiated against him.
Cited by 1 case
- GHULAM QAMBAR vs The STATE and 6 others 2019 MLD 1766