Mon Nov 04 14:00:57 UTC 2024: ## Kerala High Court Reserves Order on Appeal Against FIR Directive in Rape Case Against IPS Officer
**Kochi, November 4, 2024:** The Kerala High Court’s Division Bench on Monday reserved its order on an appeal filed against a single judge’s directive to register an FIR in a rape case against IPS officer Sujith Das and other police officers. The appeal was filed by Vinod Valiyathur, Ponnani Circle Inspector.
The court expressed concern about the procedure adopted by the single judge, stating that the decision on whether to register an FIR should have been left to the magistrate court. The bench emphasized the importance of the independence of the subordinate judiciary and argued that the magistrate should have been allowed to carry out its duties.
The appellant’s counsel argued that the single judge’s order was beyond jurisdiction and bypassed proper procedure. The counsel further argued that the magistrate court had no authority to review its earlier order and direct the police to register an FIR before receiving a report from the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), as instructed by the single judge.
The bench had earlier deferred registration of the FIR based on the magistrate court’s order. The court is expected to deliver its verdict soon.
First Piper 