Supreme Court slams UP police for not filing FIR in Noida hate crime case

Court pulls up police over delayed FIR registration

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took a stern view of the Uttar Pradesh police's failure to register an FIR in a hate crime case reported in Noida. The bench, while hearing a petition, expressed strong displeasure over the delay and inaction by the authorities.

The top court directed the police to register the First Information Report without any further delay. It made clear that no officer could refuse to act on a complaint that disclosed a cognisable offence.

Details of the case remain sparse

The case, as per the petition, involves allegations of hate speech and incitement to violence against a particular community in Noida. The petitioner had approached the police on multiple occasions but was met with inaction.

The exact nature of the alleged hate crime and the identities of the accused have not been disclosed in court orders so far. Officials have not yet confirmed the specifics of the complaint.

What the court observed

The Supreme Court bench noted that the police's refusal to register an FIR was a serious lapse. It remarked that such dereliction of duty could not be tolerated in a democracy governed by the rule of law.

The court also warned that any further delay would invite contempt proceedings against the concerned officers. It directed the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police to ensure compliance with its order.

Legal obligations under the CrPC

Under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, it is mandatory for police to register an FIR if a complaint discloses a cognisable offence. Failure to do so can be challenged in court.

The Supreme Court has in several past judgments reiterated that no police officer has the discretion to refuse registration of an FIR in such cases. The current order reinforces that principle.

Political and social context

The case comes amid heightened concerns over hate crimes and communal polarisation in parts of Uttar Pradesh. Activists have frequently accused the state police of bias in registering complaints related to hate speech and violence.

The state government has not yet issued an official response to the Supreme Court's observations. Political parties are likely to seize on the issue in the coming days.

The matter is now listed for further hearing next week, where the police are expected to submit a compliance report. All eyes will be on how quickly the Noida police act on the court's directive.