In Brief
The appellants were aggrieved when an FIR was registered against them on the direction of a Sub-Divisional Magistrate after a private complaint was lodged. The Supreme Court held that Executive Magistrates have no authority to direct police to register FIRs based on private complaints. The proper procedures are: the complainant can file an FIR herself under Section 154 CrPC, approach a Magistrate under Section 156(3) CrPC if police refuse to act, or file a complaint under Section 200 CrPC. The FIR was quashed as it was registered in violation of law and without jurisdiction. The appeal was allowed.
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