Ballia SP Expresses Regret, Takes Corrective Measures; Allahabad HC Closes Chapter On Police Treating Court's Order As FIR

Bringing closure to the controversy surrounding the registration of the written First Information by copying a High Court order verbatim, the Allahabad High Court on July 14 noted sufficient compliance with its earlier directions and decided to rest this part of the matter. For context, the case concerned alleged manipulation in the appointment of a school employee and the suspected disappearance of an original service book. The Ballia police had, instead of proceeding in accordance with law, directly treated the Court's May 29 order as the written First Information Report. Taking note of the same, the Court, on July 3, termed the act prima facie 'contumacious', apart from being 'manifestly illegal', and had sought an explanation from Superintendent of Police, Ballia, Omvir Singh. Now, in compliance with the High Court's direction, the SP filed an affidavit on July 14, wherein he admitted that the earlier FIR had been registered merely by reproducing the order of the HC verbatim and without obtaining any written complaint from the petitioner. This lapse, the SP submitted, had been discovered upon internal review and a preliminary inquiry had been ordered against the then Station House Officer, Rewati. As per the affidavit, the SP also cancelled the improperly registered FIR on July 9 and directed the SHO to register a fresh one strictly in accordance with the HC's order. The bench was apprised that a new FIR has now been registered on the basis of a written complaint submitted by the petitioner. The affidavit further stated that all concerned officers have been sensitized to ensure that such lapses do not recur in future. He also expressed sincere regret for the gross negligence and indifference shown by the then SHO. Taking the affidavit on record, the High Court observed: "A perusal of Annexure No. PA-5 shows that a fresh F.I.R., after taking a written information from the complainant, has been registered and the F.IR. formerly registered by copying the orders of this Court in the check form has been cancelled, as averred in paragraph no. 12 of the said personal affidavit. This is sufficient compliance with our orders and this part of the matter rests here". The Court directed that the matter be listed on July 28, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. for further hearing. Read more about the Court's previous order here : 'Manifestly Illegal': Allahabad HC Raps Ballia SP For Treating Court's Order As Written First Information Itself, Seeks Explanation Case title - Devendra Kumar Singh vs. State Of U.P. And 4 OthersClick Here To Read/Download Order

Ballia SP Expresses Regret, Takes Corrective Measures; Allahabad HC Closes Chapter On Police Treating Court's Order As FIR

Sparsh Upadhyay

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