LALITA KUMARI vs GOVT.OF U.P.& ORS.

The Supreme Court held that a police officer is mandated to register a First Information Report (FIR) upon receiving information about a cognizable offence under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The Court clarified that the police do not have the discretion to conduct a preliminary inquiry before registering an FIR, emphasizing the need for immediate action to protect victims, especially minors. The judgment reinforced the obligation of police officers to act promptly and established that failure to register an FIR can lead to contempt proceedings against delinquent officers.