The Supreme Court today ruled that registration of FIR in cognisable offences, is mandatory. A five judge Bench, headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, clarified that no preliminary inquiry by a police official is permissible as a condition for registering FIR in cognisable offences. The Bench said that police officials cannot avoid registration of FIR and action must be taken against them for not lodging FIR in cognisable offences. The apex court added that the preliminary investigation has to be completed within 7 days.
The ruling came on a petition seeking clarity on the process of police investigations