# Sanjay Wahi v. State of U.P. & Ors

- **Citation:** (2026) 1 ILRA 1274
- **Court:** High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
- **Decided:** 2026-01-13
- **Case number:** Criminal Misc. Writ Petition No. 18905 of 2025
- **Bench:** Chandra Dhari Singh, Lakshmi Kant Shukla
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/allahabad-high-court/sanjay-wahi-v-state-of-u-p-ors-54004
- **Pages:** 11

## Text

1274 INDIAN LAW REPORTS ALLAHABAD SERIES

8. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on
record, we are of the considered opinion that if a mechanism has been provided in the statute for
lodging an FIR, and that mechanism is indicated stage-by-stage, the same must be complied with in
its letter and spirit. Since this Court, in re: Waseem Haider (Supra), passed an order following the
dictum of the Hon'ble Apex Court in re: Lalita Kumari (Supra) upon which reliance has been
placed by the learned counsel for the petitioner and since the main grievance of the petitioner in his
representation dated 27.11.2025 is that an FIR should be lodged on his application, the same should
be lodged strictly in accordance with law. Therefore, without entering into the merits of the issue,
we hereby dispose of this petition finally at the admission stage, giving liberty to the petitioner to
take appropriate steps strictly in accordance with law. The grievance of the petitioner may be
redressed in light of the decision of this Court in re: Waseem Haider (Supra), wherein the dictum of
the Hon'ble Apex Court in re: Lalita Kumari (Supra) has been followed.

9. In view of above, this writ petition is disposed of finally.
----------
(2026) 1 ILRA 1274
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
CIVIL SIDE
DATED: ALLAHABAD 13.01.2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE CHANDRA DHARI SINGH, J.
THE HON'BLE LAKSHMI KANT SHUKLA, J.

Criminal Misc. Writ Petition No. 18905 of 2025

Sanjay Wahi ...Petitioner
Versus
State of U.P. & Ors. ...Respondents

ISSUE FOR CONSIDERATION
Whether a Division Bench exercising writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India can quash a
cognizance/summoning order passed by a Magistrate after filing of charge-sheet?

HEADNOTES
Criminal Law - Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Section 482 - Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha
Sanhita, 2023 - Section 528 - Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 420, 406, 467, 468, 471, 120B, 504, 507 - Constitution of India - Article 226, 227 - Allahabad High Court Rules, 1952 -
Chapter V Rule 2, Chapter XXII Rule 1 - Writ Petition U/article 226 - filed for quashing the FIR, later
amended to challenge charge-sheet and cognizance order - FIR - offence under Sections 420, 406, 467, 468,
471, 120-B, 504, 507 IPC - investigation - charge-sheet - trial initiated - petitioner pleaded that the dispute
was purely civil in nature arising from partnership agreements and profit-sharing, and criminal proceedings
were misuse of law - respondents argued that once cognizance is taken, writ jurisdiction under Article 226
cannot be invoked, and remedy lies under Section 528 BNSS before Single Judge as per High Court Rules -
Court finds that, present court has jurisdiction only under Article 226 and not under Section 528 BNSS, and
roster allocation cannot be bypassed - writ jurisdiction is limited post -cognizance - held, roster allocation by
Chief Justice must be respected - hence, the writ petition is not maintainable, accordingly, petition is
1 All. Sanjay Wahi Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.
1275
dismissed - however, with liberty granted to the petitioner to move an appropriate application or petition
before the competent court to quash the cognizance order. (Para - 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
 Writ Petition Dismissed. (E-11)
CASE LAW CITED
Sharif Ahmed v. State of U.P. (2024) 14 SCC 122
Vesa Holdings (P) Ltd. v. State of Kerala (2015) 8 SCC 293
Pradnya Pranjal Kulkarni v. State of Maharashtra (2025 SCC OnLine SC 1948)
Neeta Singh v. State of U.P. (2024 SCC OnLine SC 5761)
Yousef v. State of Maharashtra (Criminal Application No. 3134 of 2019, Bombay HC)

LIST OF ACTS
Constitution of India - Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 - Allahabad High Court Rules, 1952.

LIST OF KEYWORDS
Writ Petition - Quashing of FIR - Charge-sheet - Cognizance Order - Jurisdiction under Article 226 and 227 -
Section 528 of BNSS - Abuse of Process - Maintainability - Roster System - post cognizance - appropriately
incorporated - jurisdiction, assigned to the judge - Constitutional Convention and Rules of this Court -
appropriate application or petition - appropriate Court - dismissed as not maintainable.

CASE ARISING FROM
Case Crime No. 311 of 2024, Police Station Beta 2, Greater Noida, U.P. - Criminal Case No. 8223 of 2025
(State vs. Sanjay Wahi).

APPEARANCE OF PARTIES
Counsel for Appellant(s): Shri Gopal Swaroop Chaturvedi, Sr. Advocate; Ms. Saumya Chaturvedi; Mr. Dinesh
Kumar Goswami, Sr. Advocate; Mr. Devaang Salva; Mr. Anuj Shukla; Mr. Yash Giri.
Counsel for Respondent(s): Shri Mr. V.P. Srivastava, Sr. Advocate; Mr. Mohit Singh; Mr. Rajan Mishra and GA.

(Delivered by Hon'ble Chandra Dhari Singh, J.)

1. The instant writ petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking following reliefs :-

"(i) Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction quashing the impugned F.I.R. dated
03.08.2024 bearing Case Crime No. 311 of 2024, under Sections 420, 406, 467, 468, 471, 120-B,
504, 507 I.P.C., Police Station Beta 2, District Greater Noida (Commissionerate Gautam Budh
Nagar), U.P.

(ii) Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction commanding the respondents not to take
any coercive measures against the petitioner in pursuance to the impugned F.I.R. dated 03.08.2024
bearing Case Crime No. 311 of 2024, under Sections 420, 406, 467, 468, 471, 120-B, 504, 507
I.P.C., Police Station Beta 2, District Greater Noida (Commissionerate Gautam Budh Nagar), U.P.

(iii) Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction in the nature of Certiorari quashing the
impugned charge-sheet dated 17.07.2025 as well as the impugned cognizance/summoning order
dated 26.08.2025 passed by the Court of A.C.J.M.-Ist, G.B. Nagar in Criminal Case No. 8223 of
2025 (State vs. Sanjay Wahi) as well as entire proceedings arising out of Case Crime No. 311 of
2024, U/s 420, 406, 467, 468, 471, 120-B, 504, 507 I.P.C., Police Station Beta 2, Greater Noida
(Commissionerate Gautam Budh Nagar) U.P. and all subsequent proceedings thereof, during the
pendency of the present writ petition. Otherwise, the petitioner shall suffer irreparable loss and
injury."
1276 INDIAN LAW REPORTS ALLAHABAD SERIES

Brief Facts

2. As per the prosecution case, the petitioner and the complainant-respondent no. 2 were doing
business together. Between the period 2018-19, the petitioner decided to purchase a piece of land
for development and after getting the development of the said land, he wanted to sell subsequently.
The wife of the respondent no. 2, namely, Deepika Gupta was interested to invest in the said piece
of land. For this endeavour, the wife of the respondent no. 2 entered into a Partnership Agreement
with the petitioner. In the year 2019, for the purchase of the said land, an agreement to sell was
executed between the petitioner and accused nos. 3, 4 and 5. Thereafter, the Partnership Agreement
was also extended by the wife to the complainant-respondent no. 2. In the year 2020, a Partnership
Agreement was also entered into by the petitioner with one Sunit Kohli (Accused No. 3). On
16.03.2024, the complainant called the petitioner and asked him to meet at his house at D-18,
Sector 47 Noida at 06:30 PM. The petitioner went to the house of the complainant at around 07:15
PM. The complainant, his wife Deepika Gupta along with other family members started
misbehaving with the petitioner. The petitioner was also threatened, assaulted and forcefully
restrained by the complainant and his family members in his house for several hours. They have
also called the petitioner's wife and sons and threatened them of dire consequences.

3. It is alleged that the complainant and his wife Deepika Gupta made the petitioner forcefully
signed on two cheques i.e. Cheque No. '000349' amounting to Rs. 3,50,00,000/- and Cheque No.
'000352' amounting to Rs. 14,00,00,000/-

4. On the next day of this incident, the petitioner made a police complaint against the
complainant-respondent no. 2 and his wife regarding the incident of assault, wrongful restrain,
forceful signing and possession of cheques worth Rs. 17,50,00,000/-. On 20.06.2024, the
complainant-respondent no. 2 had preferred an application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. against the
petitioner and others. On 10.07.2024, the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate-II, Gautam
Budh Nagar had allowed the application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. of the complainantrespondent no. 2 and had directed to lodge an F.I.R. against the petitioner and others. On
03.08.2024, an F.I.R. bearing Case Crime No. 311 of 2024 for the offence under Sections 420, 406,
467, 468, 471, 120-B, 504 and 507 I.P.C., Police Station Beta 2, District Greater Noida
(Commissionerate Gautam Budh Nagar) has been lodged against the petitioner and four others.
Against the said F.I.R., the petitioner preferred an Anticipatory Bail Application before the Court
of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Gautam Budh Nagar. The said anticipatory bail of the
petitioner was rejected by the court concerned vide order dated 28.08.2024. Thereafter, the
petitioner preferred an Anticipatory Bail Application no. 9551 of 2024 before the High Court at
Allahabad, wherein, the Court was pleased to refer the matter to the Mediation and Conciliation
Centre to settle the dispute vide order dated 26.09.2024. However, vide order dated 07.07.2025, the
anticipatory bail application of the petitioner was granted till submission of the charge-sheet. The
instant writ petition has been filed seeking quashing of the impugned F.I.R. dated 03.08.2024
registered at Police Station Beta 2, District Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. After culmination of
investigation, charge-sheet dated 17.07.2025, against the petitioner, has been filed before the
competent court and the competent court has taken cognizance vide order dated 26.08.2025 against
the petitioner. Thereafter, the applicant has filed an application for an amendment in the writ
1 All. Sanjay Wahi Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.
1277
petition. The same was allowed vide order dated 04.09.2025 by the Co-ordinate Bench of this
Court.

Submissions of learned counsel for the petitioner

5. Mr. Gopal Swaroop Chaturvedi, learned Senior Advocate assisted by Ms. Saumya
Chaturvedi, learned Advocate; Mr. Dinesh Kumar Goswami, learned Senior Advocate assisted by
Mr. Devaang Salva, Mr. Anuj Shukla and Mr. Yash Giri, learned counsel appearing on behalf of
the petitioner submits that as per the complainant, his only grievance was related to sharing of
alleged profit made by the petitioner from the aforesaid project which unequivocally makes it a
civil dispute, wherein rights and liabilities of contracting parties should have been decided. It is
also submitted that other grievances of the complainant was that the petitioner should not have
entered into any partnership deed with one Sunit Kohli, when it had an exclusive partnership with
the wife of the complainant. Learned Senior Advocate next submits that there is no explicit law
which prohibits one party to enter into a multiple partnership agreements. If, all these allegations
are taken to be true, there is only a breach of contract, which shall be adjudicated upon by either
arbitration or through a civil suit.

6. Mr. G.S. Chaturvedi, learned Senior Advocate vehemently submitted that the complainant
must not be allowed to invoke the criminal justice system to settle civil dispute/liabilities, therefore,
the impugned First Information Report dated 03.08.2024 is nothing but a gross misuse of process of
law. The malicious prosecution has been instituted against the petitioner due to serious disputes of
civil in nature between the parties only to settle personal score. It is also apprised to the Court that
the partnership deed between the petitioner and the wife of the complainant has an explicit
arbitration clause which ought to be used in case of any dispute regarding the sharing of profits.

7. Learned Senior Advocate, in support of his arguments, has relied upon the judgment in the
case of Sharif Ahmed and Others vs. State of U.P. and Others, (2024) 14 SCC 122 and
submitted that Hon'ble the Supreme Court has held that "effort to settle civil disputes and claims
which do not involve any criminal offence, by way of applying pressure through criminal
prosecution, should be deprecated and discouraged". He has also placed reliance upon the judgment
in the case of Vesa Holdings (P) Ltd. vs. State of Kerala, (2015) 8 SCC 293 and especially relied
upon paragraph nos. 12 and 13 of the said judgment which reads as under :-

"12. .......... the settled proposition of law is that every breach of contract would not give
rise to an offence of cheating and only in those cases breach of contract would amount to cheating
where there was any deception played at the very inception. If the intention to cheat has developed
later on, the same cannot amount to cheating. In other words for the purpose of constituting an
offence of cheating, the complainant is required to show that the accused had fraudulent or
dishonest intention at the time of making promise or representation. Even in a case where
allegations are made in regard to failure on the part of the accused to keep his promise, in the
absence of a culpable intention at the time of making initial promise being absent, no offence under
Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code can be said to have been made out.

13. It is true that a given set of facts may make out a civil wrong as also a criminal
offence and only because a civil remedy may be available to the complainant that itself cannot be a
1278 INDIAN LAW REPORTS ALLAHABAD SERIES
ground to quash a criminal proceeding. The real test is whether the allegations in the complaint
disclose the criminal offence of cheating or not. In the present case there is nothing to show that at
the very inception there was any intention on behalf of the accused persons to cheat which is a
condition precedent for an offence under Section 420 IPC. In our view the complaint does not
disclose any criminal offence at all. Criminal proceedings should not be encouraged when it is
found to be malafide or otherwise an abuse of the process of the court........

8. It is lastly submitted that the dispute between the petitioner and the wife of the complainant
arises purely from a business transaction governed by a valid partnership which falls under civil
law and does not attract any criminal offence. It is further submitted that plain reading of the F.I.R.
does not discloses the commission of any offences under Sections 420, 406, 467, 468, 471, 120-B,
504, 507 I.P.C., therefore, the instant F.I.R. and the proceedings arise therefrom deserve to be
quashed.

Submissions of learned counsel for the Respondents

9. Mr. V.P. Srivastava, learned Senior Advocate assisted by Mr. Mohit Singh and Mr. Rajan
Mishra, learned counsel for the respondents vehemently opposed the writ petition and submitted
that this Court is sitting in the roster under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, therefore, this
Court has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the cognizance order dated 26.08.2025 of the concerned
Court. It is next submitted that the cognizance order passed by the concerned Magistrate may be
challenged before the appropriate jurisdiction under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha
Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as 'BNSS'). It is vehemently submitted that the power of
judicial review under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is not opened in criminal cases once
cognizance has been taken by the court concerned. It is further submitted that the filing of the
charge-sheet and taking cognizance thereupon mark a change in legal status of the case which
limits the writ jurisdiction.

10. Learned Senior Advocate has placed reliance upon the judgment of Pradnya Pranjal
Kulkarni vs. State of Maharashtra and Another, 2025 SCC OnLine SC 1948, wherein the
Supreme Court has clarified on the interplay between constitutional writ powers and statutory
remedies under BNSS. It draws a clear distinction between situations where investigation is still
ongoing, permitting in writ intervention, and cases where the charge-sheet has culminated in
cognizance, which must instead be addressed under Section 528 of the BNSS.

11. It is next submitted that as per the provisions contained in Chapter V Rule 2 of the
Allahabad High Court Rules, 1952, the Applications under Section 528 BNSS (482 Cr.P.C.) are to
be placed before a Single Judge Bench whereas the Criminal Writ Petitions, filed for quashing of
the F.I.R., are to be placed before a Division Bench, therefore, taking into consideration of the High
Court Rules as stated above, this Court has no jurisdiction to quash the cognizance order as
challenged by the petitioner in the instant writ petition. He has also placed reliance upon the
provisions contained in Chapter XXII Rule 1 of Allahabad High Court Rules. The instant writ
petition is devoid of merit, and deserves to be rejected.

Analysis and Conclusion
1 All. Sanjay Wahi Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.
1279

12. Heard learned Senior Advocates appearing on behalf of respective parties, perused the
contents made in the writ petition and other pleadings in the said writ petition.

13. In the instant case, it is an admitted fact that after completion of the investigation, chargesheet has been filed on 17.07.2025 before the concerned Court and after taking into consideration
the materials along with the impugned charge-sheet, the Court concerned found prima-facie case
for taking a cognizance and accordingly taken cognizance thereupon vide order dated 26.08.2025
against the petitioner.

14. Primarily, the instant writ petition was filed for quashing of the F.I.R. but subsequently
during the pendency of the said writ petition, the investigation has been concluded, charge-sheet
has been filed and cognizance thereupon has also been taken, therefore, the petitioner has moved an
application for amendment of the writ petition and the same was allowed vide order dated
04.09.2025 of the co-ordinate Bench of this Court. Accordingly, the instant writ petition was
amended. In the amended writ petition, the impugned charge-sheet dated 17.07.2025 along with
cognizance order dated 26.08.2025 have also been challenged. After taking into consideration the
submissions raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as respondents, the moot
question to be decided is that "whether this Court can quash a summoning or cognizance order of
the Magistrate concerned in the jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India?"

15. Bombay High Court in the case of Yousef and 8 others vs. The State of Maharashtra
and 2 others (Criminal Application No. 3134 of 2019) held as under:-

"In a plethora of judgments, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has laid down detailed
guidelines to be followed while exercising jurisdiction under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of
India or Section 482 Cr.P.C. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Radhey Shyam and another v.
Chhabi Nath and others (2015) 5 SCC 423 has held that judicial orders are not ordinary
amenable of writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution and has clarified that
supervising jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution as well as the inherent jurisdiction
under Section 482 Cr.P.C. is the appropriate forum in such cases. Even in the case of M/s Pepsi
Foods Limited and another v. Special Judicial Magistrate and others (1998) 5 SCC 749 the
Hon'ble Supreme Court has reiterated that the High Courts may exercise its power under Article
226 of the Constitution of India or under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to quash criminal proceedings where
abuse of process is evident. In the case of State of Haryana and others v. Bhajan Lal and others
1992 Supp (1) SCC 335 illustrative categories were laid down for quashing of criminal
proceedings under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and Section 482 Cr.P.C. to prevent
abuse of process of law. Continuing these lines of guidelines, the Supreme Court once again held in
the case of Neeta Singh and others v. State of U.P. and others 2024 SCC OnLine SC 5761, that
once a competent Court has taken cognizance, a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution
simplicitor to quash an FIR may not survive. However, latest dictum in Pradnya Pranjal Kulkarni
v. State of Maharashtra and another 2025 SCC OnLine SC 1948, the Supreme Court clarified
that where the petition invokes the twin jurisdiction, one under Article 226 of the Constitution and
the other under Section 482 Cr.P.C. which now corresponds to Section 528 B.N.S.S., the High
Court retains its jurisdiction post cognizance to quash not only the FIR/charge-sheet but also the
1280 INDIAN LAW REPORTS ALLAHABAD SERIES
order taking cognizance, provided the pleadings are appropriately incorporated in the petition,
and, most importantly, if the roster so permits."

16. For ready reference, Chapter V Rule 2 of the Allahabad High Court Rules, 1952 reads as
under:

"2. Jurisdiction of a single Judge :- Except as provided by these Rules or other law, the
following cases shall be heard and disposed of by a Judge sitting alone, namely-

(i) a motion for the admission of a memorandum of appeal or cross objection or
application or for ex parte interim order on an application;

1[(ii) (a) a civil 2[***] Second Appeal from a decree,including an appeal arising out of a
case instituted in a revenue court, in which the value of appeal for the purpose of jurisdiction does
not exceed 3[one lakh] rupees;

4[(aa) A Civil First Appeal instituted before 5[or after] the commencement of the [U.P.
Civil Laws Amendment Act of 1991 (U.P. Act No. 17 of 1991)] from a decree including an appeal
arising out of a case instituted in a revenue court in which the value of appeal for the purpose of
jurisdiction does not exceed [five lakh] rupees;

(b) an appeal under Section 28 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955;

(c) any other civil appeal in which the value of the appeal does not exceed 6[two lakh]
rupees :

7[Provided that where an ad valorem court-fee has been paid such value shall be deemed
to be the amount on which such court-fee has been paid;]

(iii) a civil revision;

(iv) an application for the withdrawal of an appeal or application, or for a consent
decree or order, which is uncontested or which is made in a case which can be heard under these
Rules by a Judge sitting alone;

(v) any other application which is not-

(a) an application 8[***] under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 in a case which
cannot be heard by a Judge sitting alone;

(b) 9[***]

(c) an application 53[other than an application for interim order] to which Chapter XXII,
Part IV applies;

(d) an application 10[other than an application for interim order] which by these Rules
or other law is required to be heard by a Bench of two or more Judges;

(e) an application 53[other than an application for interim order] under Chapter IX,
Rule 10; or

(f) 11[***]

(vi) a suit or a proceeding in the nature of a suit coming before the Court in the exercise
of its ordinary or extraordinary original civil testamentary or matrimonial jurisdiction including a
proceeding under the Indian Trusts Acts, 1882 55[the Companies Act, 1956] or the Indian Patents
and Designs Act,1911;

(vii) a criminal appeal, application or reference except-

(a) an appeal or reference in a case in which a sentence of death or imprisonment for life
has been passed 12[from the stage of admission including consideration of bail onwards];
1 All. Sanjay Wahi Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.
1281

13(b) "an appeal under section 378 of the code of Criminal procedure, 1973 from an
order of acquittal 14[in respect of an offence for which the maximum punishment is either life
imprisonment or death".

(c) 15(***)

(d) a case in which notice has been issued under 58[Section 401 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973] to an accused person to appear and show cause why his sentence should not be
enhanced;

(e) [***]

(f) an application to which Chapter XXI, Part IV applies;

(viii) a case coming before the Court in the exercise of its ordinary or extraordinary
original criminal jurisdiction;

(ix) an appeal or revision from an order passed 16[under Sections 340, 341 or 343 of the
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973] :

Provided that:-

(a) the Chief Justice may direct that any case or class of cases which may be heard by a
Judge sitting alone shall be heard by a Bench of two or more Judges [or that any case or class of
cases which may be heard by a Bench of two or more Judges, by a Judge sitting alone;]

(b) a Judge may, if he thinks fit, refer a case which may be heard by a Judge sitting alone
or any question of law arising therein for decision to a larger Bench; and

(c) a Judge before whom any proceeding under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, [the
Companies Act,1956] or the Patents and Designs Act, 1911, is pending may with the sanction of
the Chief Justice, obtain the assistance of one or more other Judges for the hearing and
determination of such proceeding or of any question or questions arising therein."

17. Chapter XXII Rule 1 of the Allahabad High Court Rules, 1952 reads as under:

Direction, Order or Writ under Article 226 (and Article 227) of the Constitution other
than a writ in the nature of Habeas Corpus

"1. Application. - (1) An application for a direction or order or writ under Article 226
[and Article 227] of the Constitution other than a writ in the nature of habeas corpus shall be made
to the Division Bench appointed to receive applications or, on any day on which no such Bench is
siting, to the Judge appointed to receive applications in civil matters. In the latter event the Judge
shall direct that the application be laid before a Division Bench for orders......"

18. As per the aforesaid Rules, the application under Section 528 BNSS (482 Cr.P.C.) by
which the Court has inherent power to quash the cognizance order or any judicial order passed by
the concerned Court are to be placed before a Single Judge Bench but the Criminal Writ Petitions
for quashing of the F.I.R. are to be placed before the Division Bench. The Division Bench
ordinarily amenable of the writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

19. In the case of Neeta Singh and Others vs. State of U.P. and Others, 2024 SCC OnLine
SC 5761, the Supreme Court in paragraph nos. 3, 4, 13, 14 and 15 has held as under:-
1282 INDIAN LAW REPORTS ALLAHABAD SERIES

"3. We have no doubt in our mind about the contours of jurisdiction of a high court when
a challenge is presented asserting that the impugned FIR ought to be quashed on the settled
parameters. However, sight cannot be lost of the settled legal position that it is entirely within the
discretion of a high court whether to interfere or not when other remedies are available. If during
the pendency of a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution before a high court where an
FIR is challenged the investigation is completed and charge-sheet filed, in pursuance whereof the
competent criminal court takes cognizance of the offence, the court would be disabled in
proceeding with the writ petition owing to a judicial order having intervened. We can profitably
refer to the decision of the bench of three Judges of this Court made on a reference in Radhey
Shyam v. Chhabi Nath. While disapproving the view expressed in Surya Dev Rai v. Ram Chander
Rai, it was held that judicial orders of the civil court are not amenable to writ jurisdiction under
Article 226 of the Constitution and that jurisdiction under Article 227 is distinct from jurisdiction
under Article 22619. We may also note from such decision that upon considering decisions of high
authority, a principle of law was laid down that challenge to judicial orders could lie by way of an
appeal or a revision or under Article 227 of the Constitution and not by way of a writ under
Articles 226 and 32.

4. The underlying reason why judicial orders are not amenable to challenge in a writ
petition under Article 226 of the Constitution seems to be that such orders cannot be legitimately
claimed to have been passed by the presiding officer of a court in breach or violation of a
fundamental right, any right conferred by the Constitution or a statutorily conferred right, which
could be corrected by issuance of a writ of certiorari in exercise of high prerogative writ
jurisdiction of the high courts. After all, should any right of a person be infringed as a consequence
of a judicial order, the laws provide for the fora where such order is amenable to challenge and it
is such fora, which ought to be approached for redress of one's grievance. This position flows from
Constitution Bench decisions of this Court in Naresh Shridhar Mirajkar v. State of Maharashtra
and Rupa Ashok Hurra v. Ashok Hurra, as well as the decision of a bench of three Judges in
Sadhana Lodh v. National Insurance Co. Ltd.

13. In Pepsi Foods (supra), the relevant high court was approached with a petition under
Articles 226 and 227. Interference was declined by the high court on the ground that the petitioners
could not have invoked the jurisdiction under Article 226. However, this Court was of the view that
the petition, filed in the high court under Articles 226 and 227, could well be treated solely under
Article 227 of the Constitution and decided. The observation that nomenclature is not relevant was
made on the logic that if the high court otherwise does possess jurisdiction to decide, nomenclature
would not debar the court from exercising its jurisdiction unless there is a special procedure
prescribed which procedure is mandatory.

(emphasis supplied)

14. Bearing the aforesaid dictum in mind, it would be useful at this stage to refer to the
decision of a Division Bench of the High Court at Calcutta in Sohan Lal Baid v. State of West
Bengal23. Speaking through Hon'ble P.D. Desai, CJ., the Division Bench held that adjudication of
a matter by a learned Judge without allocation made of such matter to such Judge by the Chief
Justice would be void. The aforesaid view was approved by this Court in State of Rajasthan v.
Prakash Chand24. Upon survey of a number of precedents, it was held by this Court as follows:
1 All. Sanjay Wahi Vs. State of U.P. & Ors.
1283

"59. From the preceding discussion the following broad CONCLUSIONS emerge. This,
of course, is not to be treated as a summary of our judgment and the conclusions should be read
with the text of the judgment:

(1) That the administrative control of the High Court vests in the Chief Justice alone. On
the judicial side, however, he is only the first amongst the equals.

(2) That the Chief Justice is the master of the roster. He alone has the prerogative to
constitute benches of the court and allocate cases to the benches so constituted.

(3) That the puisne Judges can only do that work as is allotted to them by the Chief
Justice or under his directions.

(4) That till any determination made by the Chief Justice lasts, no Judge who is to sit
singly can sit in a Division Bench and no Division Bench can be split up by the Judges constituting
the bench themselves and one or both the Judges constituting such bench sit singly and take up any
other kind of judicial business not otherwise assigned to them by or under the directions of the
Chief Justice.

(5) ***

(6) That the puisne Judges cannot 'pick and choose' any case pending in the High Court
and assign the same to himself or themselves for disposal without appropriate orders of the Chief
Justice.

(7) That no Judge or Judges can give directions to the Registry for listing any case before
him or them which runs counter to the directions given by the Chief Justice.

***"

15. In view of the decision in Prakash Chand (supra), we hold that nomenclature of a
petition read with the substance thereof does matter. Much depends on what the subject matter of
the petition is and who is entrusted to hear and decide it. A Judge of a high court having been
assigned petitions under Article 226 for hearing and decision by its Chief Justice cannot, if he (the
Judge) finds that the petition filed under Article 226 should have ideally been filed under Article
227, treat the petition as one under Article 227 and proceed to hear and decide it, unless the Chief
Justice has also assigned to such Judge petitions under Article 227 of the Constitution for hearing
and decision. If not so assigned, the learned Judge may, in his discretion, direct the petition to be
treated as one under Article 227 for being placed before the learned Judge having assignment. This
is mandatory and, therefore, one finds the caution sounded by this Court in the opening sentence of
paragraph 26 of Pepsi Foods (supra) to be of extreme significance."

20. In the case of Pradnya Pranjal Kulkarni (Supra), the Supreme Court has clarified that
where the petition invokes twin jurisdiction, one under Article 226 of the Constitution and other
under Section 528 BNSS (482 of Cr.P.C.), the High Court retains its jurisdiction post cognizance to
quash not only the FIR/Charge-sheet but also the order taking cognizance, provided the pleadings
are appropriately incorporated in the petition, and, most importantly, if the roster so permits.

21. As per the discussions in foregoing paragraphs, it is also settled that A judge of a High
Court having been assigned petitions under Article 226 for hearing and decision by its Chief
Justice, if he finds that petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution should have ideally been
filed under Article 227/528 BNSS, treat that petition as one under Article 227/528 BNSS and
1284 INDIAN LAW REPORTS ALLAHABAD SERIES
proceed to hear and decide it, unless the Chief Justice has also assigned to the Judge, to hear and
decide the petitions under Article 227/528 BNSS. If not so assigned, the learned Judge may, in his
discretion, direct the petition to be treated as one under Article 227/528 BNSS for being placed
before the learned Judge having assignment.

22. This Court is having only jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. The
roster is prepared by the Chief Justice of the High Court and it is not open to be overstepped by the
any Court. The roster system is based on Constitutional Convention and Rules of this Court /
Supreme Court.

23. It is an admitted fact that this Court is not having twin jurisdiction one under Article 226
of the Constitution and other under Article 227/528 BNSS, therefore, this Court has only
jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India as assigned by the Chief Justice.

24. Taking into consideration the aforesaid principle of law, clarification of Hon'ble the
Supreme Court and the facts and materials available on record, we are of the opinion that the
instant writ petition is not maintainable.

25. Accordingly, the instant writ petition is dismissed as not maintainable.

26. The petitioner is at liberty to move an appropriate application or petition before the
appropriate Courts to quash the cognizance order.
----------
(2026) 1 ILRA 1284
REVISIONAL JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL SIDE
DATED: ALLAHABAD 14.01.2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE HARVIR SINGH, J.

Criminal Revision No. 4884 of 2024 & other connected cases

M/S Marion Biotech Pvt Ltd & Ors. ...Revisionists
Versus
Union of India & Anr. ...Opposite Parties

ISSUE FOR CONSIDERATION
Whether the cognizance and summoning order passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, in Complaint Case,
against directors and officials of company was valid, or vitiated by procedural irregularities and lack of judicial
application of mind?

HEADNOTES
Criminal Law - Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Sections - 397 - Indian Penal Code, 1860 -
Section 320, - Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, - Sections - 16, 17-A, 17-B, 17-D, 17-E, 18-A, 18B, 18(a)(i), 22, 24, 26-A, 27(a), 27(b)(i), 27(b)(ii), 27(c), 27(d), 28, 28-A, 28-B, 32, 34, 78 -
Criminal Revision - filed by directors and officials of the company - against cognizance and summoning order -