Court Demands Protocol for Honoring Union Minister in FIRs

The Allahabad High Court has requested an affidavit from the Uttar Pradesh additional chief secretary (home) regarding the omission of 'Hon'ble' before a Union minister's name in an FIR. This decision followed a petition to quash an FIR in Mathura. The court emphasized adhering to protocol when drafting legal documents.

The Allahabad High Court has called for an explanation from the additional chief secretary (home) of Uttar Pradesh concerning an FIR that failed to include the honorific 'Hon'ble' before naming a Union minister. This inquiry follows a petition by Harshit Sharma and others, aiming to nullify an FIR in Mathura.

In its directive dated March 31, the court stressed the importance of adhering to protocol, insisting that the police should have inserted the honorific while drafting the FIR, even if the first informant's report described the minister inadequately.

The bench of Justices J J Munir and Tarun Saxena has scheduled the next hearing for April 6 and instructed the registrar (compliance) to ensure the directive is conveyed to the additional chief secretary and Mathura SSP promptly.