The Lalita Kumari judgment refers to a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of India in 2013. The judgment pertains to the mandatory registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) by police when they receive information about cognizable offenses.
In this ruling, the Supreme Court emphasized that the police must register an FIR upon receiving information about a cognizable offense, meaning those crimes where police can make an arrest without a warrant. The court outlined that failure to do so would violate an individual’s fundamental right to access justice.
The Lalita Kumari judgment also laid down certain guidelines for police officers regarding the registration of FIRs. It directed that preliminary inquiries should not be conducted to determine the veracity of the information before registering an FIR unless there are exceptional circumstances. Additionally, it specified that if an officer is not competent to decide whether an offense is cognizable or not, the information must be forwarded to the appropriate authority for registration.
Overall, the Lalita Kumari judgment serves as a significant legal precedent ensuring prompt and impartial registration of FIRs, thus safeguarding citizens’ rights and ensuring effective law enforcement.