38.6c New Delhi, India, Saturday, August 02, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Mere Presence at Demonstration Sport Wouldnt Invite Criminal Action: HP High Court Quashes FIR Against Persons Protesting at National Highway

By Prachi Jain      18 May, 2021 08:38 PM      0 Comments
Mere Presence at Demonstration Sport Wouldnt Invite Criminal Action: HP High Court Quashes FIR Against Persons Protesting at National Highway

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on May 11th 2021 quashed the FIR registered against two persons for being members of an unlawful assembly which allegedly blocked National Highway Shimla and caused wrongful restraint.

A single judge bench chaired by justice Anoop Chitkara quashed the FIR with the opinion that this case is one of the exceptional cases where the court should exercise its inherent jurisdiction under section 482 of Criminal Procedure Code 1973.

The court opined that all roads, be it expressways, village roads or colony roads are life lines. Under any pretext howsoever justifiable it might be, the blocking of any highway, road, street or path can neither be condoned nor forgiven or approved, however, mere presence at the spot in the demonstration would not invite criminal acts in the facts and nature of allegations made in the present a FIR.

On May 28th, 2018 an FIR was registered by the police against 11 persons including the two petitioners, after receiving information that some people were protesting at the National Highway on not getting the water supply for days. 

As reported by the police, the mob had allegedly blocked the highway which was however opened after the ADM reached the spot and was successful in persuading the protesters, and an FIR was registered under section 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and section 143 (punishment for being a member of an unlawful assembly) of The Indian Penal Code 1860.

The petitioners then approached the High Court seeking for the quash of the FIR on the ground that they were not present at the spot and were implicated in the case without any evidence of identification.

It was also submitted to the court that even if the allegations of the FIR in investigation are excepted hypothetically, they will fail to make a prima facie case against them as there is a lack of evidence to show that the road was blocked by them.

To this, the prosecution had submitted that even if the petitioners did not participate in the blockade, they did not intervene and stopped their neighbours from blocking the road.

Observing that the investigation in the matter was complete and the report under section 173(2) of Criminal Procedure Code 1973, had also been filed in the matter the court observed that even if this court presumes the petitioners presence at this spot, it would still not lead to an automatic inference of their participation in blocking the road.

The court also opined that the best evidence in this situation is videography, and since almost every phone has a camera and inbuilt video recording features, the absence of videography would cast doubt about the credibility and genuineness of the investigation

Moreover, the single bench allowed the writ petition and quashed the FIR registered against the petitioners and opined that if the proceedings are allowed to be continued, it shall amount to miscarriage of justice

The court continued and stated that the state has failed to produce a single evidence to prove that the participation of the petitioners in the blocking of the road. Thus, even if this court believes all the allegations in a FIR as truthful, still there is no allegation against the petitioners of participating in any criminal activity. 

Title, Miss Anjali Soni Verma and another vs State of Himachal Pradesh and others. (Cr.MMO No. 203 of 2021).



Share this article:



Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

sc-to-first-consider-maintainability-of-review-against-2022-judgment-on-eds-powers-under-pmla
Trending Judiciary
SC to first consider maintainability of review against 2022 judgment on ED's powers under PMLA

SC to first decide if review pleas on ED powers under PMLA are maintainable; hearing on Karti Chidambaram’s plea set for August 6.

01 August, 2025 10:58 AM
sc-recalls-may-2-judgment-scrapping-jsw-steels-resolution-plan-for-bhushan-power-and-steel-ltd
Trending Business
SC recalls May 2 judgment scrapping JSW Steel's resolution plan for Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd

SC recalls its May 2 verdict cancelling JSW Steel’s ₹19,300 Cr resolution plan for Bhushan Power; matter to be heard afresh on August 7.

01 August, 2025 11:13 AM

TOP STORIES

sc-questions-justice-varma-over-failure-to-challenge-validity-of-in-house-inquiry-panel
Trending Judiciary
SC questions Justice Varma over failure to challenge validity of in-house inquiry panel

SC questions Justice Varma for not challenging in-house probe panel earlier despite cash haul case; asks why he joined inquiry if he found it flawed.

28 July, 2025 02:27 PM
timelines-for-governor-prez-to-clear-bills-kerala-asks-sc-to-return-presidential-reference-unanswered
Trending Executive
Timelines for Governor, Prez to clear Bills: Kerala asks SC to return presidential reference "unanswered"

Kerala urges SC to return Presidential reference on bill clearance timelines as “unmaintainable”, citing suppression of facts and settled SC rulings under Article 200.

28 July, 2025 02:38 PM
sc-refuses-to-stay-publication-of-draft-voters-list-in-bihar-on-aug-1
Trending Judiciary
SC refuses to stay publication of draft voters list in Bihar on Aug 1

SC declines stay on Bihar draft voter list; asks EC to consider Aadhaar, Voter ID for inclusion ahead of Assembly polls on August 1.

28 July, 2025 04:10 PM
why-so-many-students-dying-by-suicides-sc-asks-iit-kharagpur
Trending Judiciary
Why so many students dying by suicides, SC asks IIT Kharagpur

SC asks IIT Kharagpur why students are dying by suicide; raises concern amid rising campus deaths despite new mental health guidelines.

29 July, 2025 11:51 AM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email