The Allahabad High Court sought an explanation from the Uttar Pradesh government over omission of “Hon’ble” before a Union Minister’s name in an FIR. The Bench stressed police must follow protocol by adding appropriate honorifics.
PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to explain why police omitted the honorific “Honorable” (or “Mr”) before a Union minister’s name in a First Information Report (FIR).
A Division Bench comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena directed the State Home Secretary to file an affidavit explaining the omission. The court pointed out that the police should have added the title even if the complainant failed to include it.
The court observed,
“The Additional Chief Secretary, (Home), Government of UP, Lucknow will explain on his affidavit why in the FIR the Hon’ble Union Minister, whose name figures, has not been described with the usual honorific of Hon’ble, and at one point, referred to just by his name without even appending a ‘Mr.’ Even if in the written report, the Hon’ble Minister was inappropriately described by the first informant, while writing the check FIR, it was the duty of the Police to have abided by the protocol by inserting the honorific, may be in brackets,”
The FIR, which the court is considering for quashing, alleges criminal intimidation and criminal breach of trust. According to the complaint, the accused took Rs 80 lakh from the complainant promising to secure him a job, failed to repay the money, and later threatened to kill him. The Union Minister is not an accused, but his name appears in the FIR.
The court will hear the quashing petition on April 6. On March 30, it asked a government lawyer to obtain instructions on the allegations against the accused.
Separately, the High Court recently questioned UP Police for referring to a trial court as “the court below.” In an affidavit filed after a court order, the Superintendent of Police of Kushinagar had written: “Upon which learned court below took the cognizance of the offence on 03.01.2026.”
Justice Harvir Singh has asked the police officer to explain that wording. The matter is listed for consideration on April 10.
Case Title: Harshit Sharma And 2 Others v State of UP and 2 Others.