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Allahabad High Court

ROHITversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ANOTHER

Decided

Holding

The charge sheet filed under Sections 352 and 351(2) BNSS must be treated as a complaint, rendering the cognizance order invalid.

Summary

The applicant Rohit filed an application under Section 528 of the BNSS seeking quashing of a charge sheet dated 25‑08‑2025 and a cognizance order dated 18‑09‑2025 passed by the Civil Judge (C.D.)/F.T.C., Jaunpur in case no. 958 of 2025. The applicant contended that the offences alleged under Sections 352 and 351(2) of the BNSS are non‑cognizable and, per the explanation to Section 2(1)(h) of the BNSS, the police‑prepared charge sheet must be treated as a complaint, not as a police case. The State did not dispute these legal submissions. The High Court examined the definition of "complaint" and the explanation, concluding that the charge sheet indeed falls within the meaning of a complaint for a non‑cognizable offence. Consequently, the Court held that the learned Magistrate erred in taking cognizance as a State case and set aside the order of 18‑09‑2025. The application was partly allowed, but the Court clarified that the trial court may still proceed with the matter as a complaint case if required.

Issues considered

  • Whether offences under Sections 352 and 351(2) BNSS are non‑cognizable.
  • Whether a police‑prepared charge sheet for a non‑cognizable offence is to be treated as a complaint under the explanation to Section 2(1)(h) BNSS.
  • Whether the cognizance order and summons issued by the Civil Judge are liable to be set aside.

Legislation cited

  • BNSS — s. 2(1)(h), 351(2), 352

Subjects

  • non‑cognizable offence
  • complaint vs police report
  • charge sheet
  • cognizance order
  • BNSS
  • Section 2(1)(h)
  • Section 352
  • Section 351(2)
  • quashing of charge sheet

Judgment

         HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
                 APPLICATION U/S 528 BNSS No. - 38424 of 2026

Rohit
                                                              .....Applicant(s)
                                    Versus

State of U.P. and Another
                                                                 .....Opposite
                                                                       Party(s)

Counsel for Applicant(s)                       :   Shams Uz Zaman
Counsel for Opposite Party(s)                  :   G.A.

Court No. - 79
                  HON'BLE SAURABH SRIVASTAVA, J.

1. 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 25.8.2025 and cognizance order dated 18.9.2025 passed by
learned Civil Judge (C.D.)/F.T.C., Jaunpur as well as entire proceeding of
Case no. 958 of 2025 arising out of Case Crime no. 199 of 2025 under
sections 352, 351(2) BNS, PS- Sujanganj, District Jaunpur.

3. Learned counsel for applicant has made only one submission before the
Court that offences under Sections 352, 351(2) 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. Since only legal arguments have been raised at the behest of applicants,
process to issue notice to opposite party no. 2 is hereby dispensed with.

6. Before proceeding further, the relevant provisions of Section 2(1)(h)
                                                                                                       NA528 No. 38424 of 2026
                                                                             2


                                    BNSS are being reproduced for ready reference as under:-

                                              "2. Definitions.-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."

                                    7. In view of the above explanation, charge sheet submitted by the concerned
                                    Investigating Officer in the present case under Sections 352, 351(2) 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.

                                    8. In view thereof, order dated 18.9.2025 passed by learned Civil Judge
                                    (C.D.)/F.T.C., Jaunpur summoning the applicant on the basis of chargesheet
                                    submitted by concerned Investigating Officer under Sections 352, 351(2)
                                    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.



                                                                                                   (Saurabh Srivastava,J.)
                                    September 11, 2026
                                    Shaswat




Digitally signed by :-
SHASWAT SINGH
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad


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