2024 SCMR 1123
S. 22-A---Justice of Peace - Powers and function---Under section 22-A, Cr.P.C, it is not the function of the Justice of Peace to punctiliously or assiduously scrutinize the case or to render any findings on merits but he has to ensure whether, from the facts narrated in the application, any cognizable case is made out or not; and if yes, then he can obviously issue directions that the statement of the complainant be recorded under Section 154, Cr.P.C.---Such powers of the Justice of Peace are limited to aid and assist in the administration of the criminal justice system---He has no right to assume the role of an investigating agency or a prosecutor but has been conferred with a role of vigilance to redress the grievance of those complainants who have been refused by the Police officials to register their reports---If the Justice of Peace will assume and undertake a full-fledged investigation and enquiry before the registration of FIR, then every person will have to first approach the Justice of Peace for scrutiny of his complaint and only after clearance, his FIR will be registered, which is beyond the comprehension, prudence, and intention of the legislature---Minute examination of a case and conducting a fact-finding exercise is not included in the functions of a Justice of Peace but he is saddled with a sense of duty to redress the grievance of the complainant who is aggrieved by refusal of a Police Officer to register his report.
2024 SCMR 1123
Syed QAMBER ALI SHAH vs PROVINCE OF SINDH
Ss. 154, 155 & 200---Officer Incharge of a Police Station---Receipt of information about commission of an offence---Any time, an Officer Incharge of a Police Station receives some information about the commission of an offence, he is expected first to find out whether the offence disclosed fell into the category of cognizable offences or non-cognizable offences---There is no provision in any law, including Section 154 or 155 of the Cr.P.C., which authorizes an Officer Incharge of a Police Station to hold any enquiry to assess the correctness or falsity of the information before complying with the command of the said provisions---He is obligated to reduce the same into writing, notwithstanding the fact whether such information is true or otherwise---Condition precedent for recording an FIR is that it should convey the information of an offence and that too a cognizable one---Remedy of filing a direct complaint cannot measure or match up to the mechanism provided under section 154, Cr.P.C., in which the Officer Incharge of a Police Station is duty bound to record the statement and register the FIR if a cognizable offence is made out---If in each and every case it is presumed or assumed that instead of insisting or emphasizing the lodgment of an FIR, the party may file a direct complaint, then the purpose of recording an FIR, as envisaged under section 154, Cr.P.C., will become redundant and futile and it would be very easy for the Police to refuse the registration of an FIR with the advice to file direct complaint---However, in some exceptional circumstances, the alternate remedy in the shape of direct complaint may be availed but not in every case 2024 SCMR 1123
Syed QAMBER ALI SHAH vs PROVINCE OF SINDH
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