Mandatory FIR registration for cognizable offences bars a blanket pre-FIR inquiry or restraint on future investigations.

Where information discloses a cognizable offence, the police must register an FIR under Section 154 CrPC, and a preliminary inquiry is confined to cases needing verification because no cognizable offence is prima facie made out. Allegations of abuse of official position and corruption fell within cognizable offences, so no general pre-FIR inquiry was required. A blanket restraint on future FIRs and a mandatory opportunity of explanation before registration would add safeguards not contemplated by the statutory scheme, so the request for mandamus was rejected.

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Issues: Whether a writ of mandamus could be issued directing a preliminary inquiry before registration of any future FIR against the appellant and restraining successive FIRs in respect of alleged acts done in official capacity.

Analysis: The governing rule is that registration of an FIR is mandatory under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 once the information discloses a cognizable offence. A preliminary inquiry is confined to cases where the information does not prima facie disclose such an offence and only needs verification. Allegations of abuse of official position and corruption, as alleged here, fall within cognizable offences and do not attract a general pre-FIR inquiry requirement. The prayer for a blanket restriction on future FIRs or a compulsory opportunity of explanation before registration would add a safeguard not contemplated by the statutory scheme and would amount to judicial overreach.

Conclusion: The appellant was not entitled to a mandamus for mandatory preliminary inquiry before registration of FIRs, and the request for a blanket restraint on future FIRs was rejected.

Final Conclusion: The appeal failed, and the dismissal left the appellant to pursue any other remedies available in law in relation to the pending or future proceedings.

Ratio Decidendi: Where information discloses a cognizable offence, the police must register an FIR under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and courts cannot impose a general pre-registration inquiry requirement or blanket restraint on investigation.

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