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Allahabad High Court

SUKHA AND ANOTHERversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ANOTHER

Decided

Holding

The charge sheet should be treated as a complaint, and the magistrate’s cognizance order as a State case is set aside.

Summary

The applicants, Sukha and another, filed an application under Section 528 of the BNSS seeking to quash a charge sheet dated 28‑11‑2025 and a cognizance order dated 23‑03‑2026 in State vs Sukha (Case No. 229 of 2026). They contended that the offences alleged—Sections 324(4), 115(2), 352 and 351(2) of the BNSS—are non‑cognizable and that, under the explanation to Section 2(1)(h) of the BNSS, a police report of a non‑cognizable offence must be treated as a complaint, not as a police case. Relying on Shakila Bano v. State of U.P. (2008), the court held that the magistrate erred in taking cognizance as a State case. Consequently, the court set aside the order of 23‑03‑2026, partially allowing the application, while noting that the case may proceed as a complaint if required. The order was signed on 7 May 2026 by Justice Saurabh Srivastava.

Issues considered

  • Whether offences under Sections 324(4), 115(2), 352 and 351(2) of the BNSS are non‑cognizable.
  • Whether a charge sheet filed by a police officer for a non‑cognizable offence is to be treated as a complaint under the explanation to Section 2(1)(h) of the BNSS.
  • Whether the magistrate could take cognizance of the matter as a State case.

Legislation cited

  • B.N.S.S. — s. 115(2), 2(1)(h), 324(4), 351(2), 352, 528

Subjects

  • non‑cognizable offence
  • charge sheet
  • complaint
  • cognizance
  • Section 528
  • BNSS
  • quashing of charge sheet
  • criminal procedure

Judgment

         HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD

           APPLICATION U/S 528 BNSS No. - 15359 of 2026

Sukha And Another
                                                            .....Applicant(s)
                                  Versus
State of U.P. and Another
                                                                .....Opposite
                                                                      Party(s)

Counsel for Applicant(s)                    :   Mohammad Danish
Counsel for Opposite Party(s)               :   G.A.

Court No. - 77
                 HON'BLE SAURABH SRIVASTAVA, J.

1. Heard learned counsel for the applicants and learned AGA for the State.

2. The present application has been preferred for seeking quashing of
chargesheet dated 28.11.2025 and cognizance order dated 23.03.2026 along
with entire proceedings of Case No.229 of 2026 (State Vs. Sukha and
others), arising out of Case Crime No.491 of 2025, under Section 324(4),
115(2), 352, 351(2) of BNS, P.S. Didauli, District Amroha, pending in the
court of learned II Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Amroha.

3. Learned counsel for applicants has made only one submission before the
Court that offences under Section 324(4), 115(2), 352, 351(2) of BNS are
non-cognizable and in view of the explanation to Section 2(1)(h) of BNSS,
the charge sheet filed by the Investigating Officer concerned cannot proceed
as a police case and the same is liable to be proceeded with as a complaint
case. In support of his submission, learned counsel of applicants has placed
reliance upon the judgment passed in the case of Shakila Bano and others
Vs. State of U.P. and another, 2008 (61) ACC 636.

4. Since the argument as advanced on behalf of learned counsel for
applicants, is based on legal issue, no notice is required to be issued to
opposite party no.2.

5. Although, learned AGA opposed the prayer sought through the instant
application but did not dispute the submissions so made by learned counsel
for applicants.

6. Before proceeding further, the relevant provisions of Section 2(1)(h) of
BNSS are being reproduced for ready reference as under:-

     "2. Definitions.-(1) In this Sanhita, unless the context otherwise
                                                                                            NA528 No. 15359 of 2026
                                                                    2

                                         requires,-

                                         (h) "complaint" means any allegation made orally or in writing
                                         to a Magistrate, with a view to his taking action under this
                                         Sanhita, that some person, whether known or unknown, has
                                         committed an offence, but does not include a police report.

                                         Explanation.- A report made by a police officer in a case which
                                         discloses, after investigation, the commission of a non-
                                         cognizable offence shall be deemed to be a complaint; and the
                                         police officer by whom such report is made shall be deemed to be
                                         the complainant."

                                    7. In view of the above explanation, charge sheet submitted by the concerned
                                    Investigating Officer in the present case under Section 324(4), 115(2), 352,
                                    351(2) of BNS, should have been treated as complaint and it is to be decided
                                    as complaint but the learned Magistrate fell in legal error by taking
                                    cognizance as State case and the orders passed by him is, therefore, liable to
                                    be set aside.

                                    8. In view thereof, order dated 23.03.2026 passed in Case No.229 of 2026
                                    (State Vs. Sukha and others), arising out of Case Crime No.491 of 2025,
                                    summoning the applicants on the basis of chargesheet submitted by
                                    concerned Investigating Officer under Section 324(4), 115(2), 352, 351(2) of
                                    BNS treating the same as State case, is set aside.

                                    9. Accordingly, the instant application is partly allowed.

                                    10. However, it is made clear that this order shall not preclude the learned
                                    court concerned to proceed with the case treating it as complaint case, if
                                    required, in accordance with law.

                                    May 7, 2026
                                    Vivek Kr.
                                                                                        (Saurabh Srivastava,J.)




Digitally signed by :-
VIVEK KUMAR
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad


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