“ Section 197 of the Cr.PC and Section 218 of the BNSS are intended to operate as a safeguard against public servants from being dragged into vexatious proceedings for having discharged their official duties. In doing so the court observed that Section 197 CrPC/Section 218 BNSS are meant to safeguard the public servants from being dragged into vexatious proceedings while …
The Supreme Court has outlined the scope of immunity granted to public servants, making it explicit that the requirement of prior sanction to prosecute them is “not a shield for corrupt practices” and that the immunity cannot be misused by public servants to camouflage illegal acts as duties performed under the colour of their office. “The object behind the enactment …
In a recent decision, the Supreme Court summarised the principles relating to Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which hold that public servants cannot be prosecuted in respect of acts done in the discharge of their official duties without sanction from the government.The judgment delivered by a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra explained when …
The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court has observed that the officers appointed by a government authority to detect and assess theft of electricity under the Electricity Act, 2003 are 'public servants' under Section 169 of the Act and thus a previous sanction of a concerned authority as provided in Section 197 CrPC is necessary before issuing process against …
The Kerala High Court has ruled that sanction stipulated under Section 197 Code of Criminal Procedure is not necessary to prosecute police officers in cases of police brutality since such acts are not related in any manner to the discharge of their official duties.Justice Mary Joseph remarked:".the accused can only be taken to have exercised their authority for committing some …