Allahabad High Court asked UP Police: Why was ‘Honourable’ or ‘Shri’ not written before the name of the Union Minister in the FIR?

Bureau Prayagraj- The Allahabad High Court has sought an explanation from the Uttar Pradesh government as to why the police did not write ‘Hon’ble’ or ‘Shri’ before the name of a Union Minister in an FIR (First Information Report) lodged by it. [हर्षित शर्मा और 2 अन्य बनाम उत्तर प्रदेश राज्य और 2 अन्य]. Justice J.J. A division bench of Justice Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena asked the state Home Secretary to explain the reason for not mentioning the honorific title in the case. The court said that the police should have added this title even though the complainant had not mentioned it.

The court said, “The Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, should clarify in his affidavit as to why the Honorable Union Minister, whose name has appeared in the FIR, was not written with the usual respectable title ‘Hon’ble’ before his name, and at one place he has been mentioned only by his name, without adding ‘Shri’. Even though the complainant may not have mentioned the Honorable Minister correctly in the written report, it was the duty of the police while writing the ‘Check FIR’. That she would follow protocol and add an honorific title, even if only in brackets.”

The court was hearing a petition seeking quashing of the FIR; In this FIR, allegations of criminal intimidation and criminal breach of trust were made. It is alleged that the accused had taken Rs 80 lakh from the complainant on the pretext of getting him a job. According to the police complaint, later he did not return the amount and also threatened to kill her. The Union Minister is not an accused in this case, but his name has appeared in the FIR.

The court will hear the petition to cancel this FIR on April 6. On March 30, the court had asked the government lawyer to take certain instructions regarding the charges leveled against the accused. Interestingly, in another case, the High Court had recently questioned the UP Police as to why it called the trial court as “the court below”.

In an affidavit filed in response to the court order, the Kushinagar Superintendent of Police had written the following: “Whereupon the trial court took cognizance of the offense on 03.01.2026.” Justice Harvir Singh has now directed the police officer to explain his choice of words. The matter will be taken up for consideration on April 10.