Cognizable offence complaints must be registered as FIRs; police cannot assess merits or credibility before registration.

Information disclosing a cognizable offence must be recorded as an FIR under Section 154(1) CrPC, and police cannot refuse registration by testing credibility or reasonableness at that stage. Where the information is unclear, only a limited preliminary inquiry may be undertaken, but the police cannot assume the role of a court or decide the complaint on its merits. On the facts discussed, the complaint had to be registered and investigated, and the inquiry officer acted beyond jurisdiction in returning findings on the merits.

---

---

Issues: Whether the police were bound to register a case on the petitioners' complaint disclosing a cognizable offence, and whether the inquiry officer could refuse registration or adjudicate on the merits of the complaint.

Analysis: Once information satisfying the requirements of Section 154(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 discloses a cognizable offence, the police officer must record it and register a case. The credibility or reasonableness of the information is not a condition precedent for registration. If the information is unclear, a limited inquiry may precede registration, but the police cannot assume the role of a court and decide the merits of the complaint. On the facts, the petitioners' complaint could not be treated as inoperative merely because the opposing version alleged procedural impropriety, and the inquiry officer exceeded his brief by returning findings on the merits.

Conclusion: The police were bound to register a case on the petitioners' complaint, and the contrary refusal was unlawful. The inquiry officer also acted beyond jurisdiction by pronouncing on the merits of the complaint.

Final Conclusion: The complaint was required to be registered and investigated in accordance with law, and the matter was directed for investigation by the Crime Branch.

Ratio Decidendi: Information disclosing a cognizable offence must be registered as an FIR under Section 154(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the police cannot refuse registration by assessing credibility or deciding the merits of the complaint.

---