𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗔 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗧: 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗟𝗬 𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘’𝗦 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗔 𝗡𝗢𝗡-𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗭𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀?

• The 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 clarified that a 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 (𝗦𝗛𝗢) can directly approach a Magistrate for permission to investigate a 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲:

Susheel Mondal & Others v. State of Karnataka & Another

𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:

• 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟱𝟱(𝟮), 𝗖𝗿𝗣𝗖, 𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟯: Police cannot investigate a non-cognizable case without an order of the competent Magistrate.
• 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟳𝟰(𝟮), 𝗕𝗡𝗦𝗦, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯: Corresponding provision under the new criminal procedure law.

 

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲:

• The police registered a 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 (𝗡𝗖𝗥) on the basis of a complaint.
• The police officer directly approached the Magistrate for 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲.
• After permission was granted, the police investigated the matter and filed a 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘁.
• The accused challenged the proceedings, arguing that the informant, rather than the police officer, should have sought permission.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱?

• 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵: The SHO or investigating officer can directly seek the Magistrate’s permission.
• 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁: The informant is not the only person who may seek permission.
• 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: Police must still obtain an order from the competent Magistrate before investigating a non-cognizable offence.
• 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱: The High Court rejected the challenge to the criminal proceedings.
• 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Court directed it to work towards framing rules under the BNSS on this issue.

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴:

• 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟱𝟱(𝟭) 𝗖𝗿𝗣𝗖 deals with the procedure when information about a non-cognizable offence is received.
• 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟱𝟱(𝟮) 𝗖𝗿𝗣𝗖 requires a Magistrate’s order before investigation.
• The provision does not expressly state that only the informant can seek permission.
• Therefore, the police officer may directly approach the Magistrate.

𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗼:

• Prakash Raj @ Prakash Rai v. State of Karnataka
• State of Gujarat v. Girish Radhakrishnan Varde (2013)

𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘃𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲:

• 𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Police may ordinarily investigate without prior Magistrate permission, subject to applicable law.
• 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Prior authorisation from the competent Magistrate is required under the applicable criminal procedure law.

𝗣𝗖𝗦-𝗝 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆:

• 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲: Who can seek permission to investigate a non-cognizable offence?
• 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗱: The police officer can directly seek permission; the informant is not the exclusive applicant.
• 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟱𝟱(𝟮) 𝗖𝗿𝗣𝗖 / 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟳𝟰(𝟮) 𝗕𝗡𝗦𝗦.
• 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲: The judgment clarifies who may apply; it does not remove the requirement of prior Magistrate permission.

𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 (𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐬)

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬?

– A 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 (𝐒𝐄𝐌) court in Delhi granted bail to 𝐂𝐉𝐏 activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, bringing attention to the powers of SEMs under the 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐤 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐚 (𝐁𝐍𝐒𝐒), 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑.

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬?

• 𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐬 are appointed by State Governments for a specified period, area or particular purpose under 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟓 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐍𝐒𝐒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑.
• Their primary responsibility is to maintain 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 and prevent breaches of peace through preventive and administrative action.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐍𝐒𝐒?

• 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟐𝟔: An Executive Magistrate may require a person likely to disturb public peace to execute a 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 for a period of up to one year.
• 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟔𝟑: Empowers an Executive Magistrate to issue 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 in cases of nuisance or apprehended danger.
• 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟕𝟎: Provides for 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 to prevent the commission of a cognizable offence, subject to statutory conditions.

𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐬 𝐯𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬:

• 𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐬: Exercise specified 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬; they do not conduct criminal trials or convict accused persons.
• 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: Exercise judicial powers relating to 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬, 𝐛𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 and function within the judicial system.

𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬:

• Enables authorities to prevent disturbances 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫.
• SEMs’ actions remain subject to 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 and applicable administrative oversight.
• Preventive powers must be exercised according to law, respecting 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 and procedural safeguards.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬:

• 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
• 𝐄𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 25 December 2023.
• 𝐄𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 1 July 2024.
• 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐰: Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973.
• 𝐒𝐄𝐌 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Section 15 of the BNSS, 2023.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 play an important role in preventive justice and public-order administration. Their powers must be exercised within the statutory framework to balance 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 with 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.