Rakia Imran
On 3rd March, 2025, Allahabad High Court directed the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) to justify the act of including caste details of suspects or other individuals in FIRs (First Information Reports) in the case of Praveen Chetri v. State of of UP and Anr. The present matter was before Justice Vinod Diwakar who expressed concerns about the implications of such act, highlighting the risk of bias and discriminatory treatment against marginalized groups.
“The Director General of Police is directed to file a personal affidavit, before the next date of hearing, justifying the requirement and relevance of mentioning the caste of a suspect or a group of persons in an FIR or during a police investigation in a caste-ridden society, where social divisions continue to influence law enforcement practices and public perception”, the Court ordered.
Justice Diwakar emphasized that the Constitution of India guarantees abolition of caste-based discrimination in India, emphasising equality, dignity and impartial justice for all citizen. He further elaborate that the Supreme Court has disapproved the act of mentioning caste and religion in pleadings, recognising that such references serve no legal purpose and may perpetuate discrimination.
The Allahabad High Court was hearing a petition seeking the annulment of an FIR registered by the Etawah police in 2023 under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Excise Act,1950.
The petitioner, who was named as an accused in the case, had been traveling as a co-passenger in a car when the police conducted a search and discovered 106 bottles of whisky labeled “for sale in Haryana only”. Following his interrogation, authorities stopped another vehicle, seizing an additional 237 bottles of illicit liquor.
According to the prosecution, the petitioner is the leader of a gang that illegally transports liquor from Haryana to Bihar, where it is sold at inflated rates for profit. The prosecution further claimed that he frequently altered the number plates of vehicles to evade law enforcement.
Upon reviewing the FIR, the Court observed that the caste of every accused individual was explicitly mentioned in the document. Taking note of this, the Court demanded an explanation from the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) regarding the necessity of such references.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on March 12. The accused was represented by Advocates Prashant Sharma and Surendra Pratap Singh before the Court.
Case Name: Praveen Chetri v. State of UP and Anr.
Case Number: U/S 482 No. 31545 of 2024
Bench: Justice Vinod Diwakar