Lalita Kumari vs Govt.Of U.P.& Ors

The Supreme Court held that under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a police officer is mandated to register an FIR when information regarding a cognizable offence is received, without any discretion to conduct a preliminary inquiry. The Court emphasized that failure to register an FIR in such cases constitutes a violation of the law, and directions can be issued to ensure compliance. The judgment reinforced the principle established in previous cases, affirming the necessity of prompt police action in cognizable offences.