No ‘Hon’ble’ Prefix in FIR: Allahabad High Court Seeks Explanation from UP Govt

The Allahabad High Court has raised a procedural concern regarding the omission of honorific titles in an FIR where the name of a Union Minister was mentioned. The issue came up before a bench comprising Justice J.J. Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena during the hearing of a plea.

The Court noted that the FIR referred to the Union Minister only by name, without using commonly accepted prefixes such as “Hon’ble” or even “Mr.”. This omission drew the attention of the bench, which considered it a matter requiring clarification from the authorities.

Taking note of the situation, the Court directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Government of Uttar Pradesh, to file an affidavit explaining why such an omission occurred. The bench emphasised that adherence to official protocol is expected in documents prepared by law enforcement authorities.

The judges observed that even if the informant had not used an honorific while naming the Minister, it remained the responsibility of the police to ensure that appropriate prefixes were included while drafting the chik FIR. The Court indicated that official records must maintain a certain standard of formality and respect.

The matter arose in connection with a petition seeking quashing of an FIR involving allegations of criminal intimidation and criminal breach of trust. The Union Minister’s name appeared in the FIR, which led to the present issue being examined by the Court.

The bench did not comment on the merits of the allegations at this stage but focused specifically on the procedural lapse concerning the format of the FIR. The Court’s observations suggest an emphasis on maintaining consistency and protocol in official documentation.

Further, the Court directed the Registrar (Compliance) to ensure that its order is communicated to the concerned authorities. These include the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mathura, through the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mathura, within a period of 48 hours.

The matter is scheduled to be heard next on April 6. The Court is expected to consider the explanation submitted by the State authorities and examine whether any corrective steps are required in such cases going forward.