Allahabad High Court
JAI PRAKASH DWIVEDIversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ANOTHER
- Decided
- Bench
- SAURABH SRIVASTAVA
Holding
The charge‑sheet filed by the investigating officer is deemed a complaint, and the cognizance/summoning order taken as a State case is set aside.
Summary
The applicant filed an application under Section 528 of the BNSS seeking to quash a charge‑sheet dated 26‑04‑2025 and a cognizance/summoning order dated 02‑12‑2025 in a case involving alleged offences under Sections 352, 351(3) and 324(4) of the BNS. The applicant contended that these offences are non‑cognizable and, 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. The State did not dispute this submission. The High Court held that the charge‑sheet indeed qualifies as a complaint and that the Judicial Magistrate erred in taking cognizance as a State case. Consequently, the cognizance/summoning order was set aside, and the application was partly allowed, with a direction that the matter may proceed as a complaint if required. The order does not preclude further proceedings in the appropriate complaint mode.
Issues considered
- Whether offences under Sections 352, 351(3) and 324(4) BNS are non‑cognizable.
- Whether a police‑prepared charge‑sheet for a non‑cognizable offence is deemed a complaint under the explanation to Section 2(1)(h) BNSS.
- Whether the Judicial Magistrate could validly take cognizance of the matter as a State case.
Legislation cited
- Bihar Negotiable Sanhita (BNSS) — s. 2(1)(h)
- Bihar Penal Code (BNS) — s. 324(4), 351(3), 352
Subjects
- non‑cognizable offence
- charge‑sheet
- complaint
- cognizance
- Section 528
- quash
- High Court
- criminal procedure
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
APPLICATION U/S 528 BNSS No. - 37658 of 2026
Jai Prakash Dwivedi
.....Applicant(s)
Versus
State of U.P. and Another
.....Opposite
Party(s)
Counsel for Applicant(s) : Ashutosh Tiwari, Brahma Prakash
Tripathi
Counsel for Opposite Party(s) : G.A.
Court No. - 79
HON'BLE SAURABH SRIVASTAVA, J.
1. This matter is being taken up in the date fixed category. Heard learned
counsel for the applicant and learned AGA for the State.
2. The present application has been preferred for seeking quashing of
charge-sheet dated 26.04.2025 and cognizance/summoning order dated
02.12.2025 along with entire proceedings of Case No.865 of 2025, arising
out of Case Crime No.10 of 2025, under Sections 352, 351(3), 324(4) BNS,
P.S. Khiri, District- Prayagraj, pending before learned court of Judicial
Magistrate 2nd, Allahabad.
3. Learned counsel for applicant has made only one submission before the
Court that offences under Sections 352, 351(3), 324(4) BNS are non-
cognizable and in view of the explanation to Section 2(1)h 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 applicant has placed
reliance upon the judgments passed in the case of Shakila Bano and others
Vs. State of U.P. and another, 2008 (61) ACC 636.
4. Although, learned AGA opposed the prayer sought through the instant
application but did not dispute the submissions so made by learned counsel
for applicant.
5. Before proceeding further, the relevant provisions of Section 2(1)h BNSS
are being reproduced for ready reference as under:-
NA528 No. 37658 of 2026
2
"2. Definitions.- (1) In this Sanhita, unless the context otherwise 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."
6. In view of the above explanation, charge sheet submitted by the concerned
Investigating Officer in the present case under Sections 352, 351(3),
324(4) BNS shall be treated as complaint and it is to be decided as complaint
and 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.
7. Since the legal issue has been raised by learned counsel for the applicant
and as such process to issue notice to opposite party no.2 is hereby dispensed
with.
8. In view thereof, cognizance/summoning order dated 02.12.2025 passed by
learned Judicial Magistrate 2nd, Allahabad against the applicants on the
basis of charge-sheet submitted by concerned Investigating Officer under
Sections 352, 351(3), 324(4) BNS treating the same as State case, is set
aside, in respect of applicant(s) herein.
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.
September 30, 2026
Saif
(Saurabh Srivastava,J.)
Digitally signed by :-
SHAIKH SAIF ABDIN
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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