In an extraordinary case of bureaucratic blunder, a police officer in Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad mistakenly targeted a sitting judge while attempting to execute a proclamation order meant for a theft accused—earning a scathing reprimand from the court.
The mix-up unfolded last month when Sub-Inspector Banwarilal, tasked with serving a proclamation notice under Section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), erroneously reported to the court that the accused—named “Nagma Khan”—could not be located at her residence. What he failed to realise was that Nagma Khan is, in fact, the Chief Judicial Magistrate who had issued the order in the first place. In his written submission to the court, Banwarilal stated: “When the attached NBW (non-bailable warrant) was served by me, a thorough search was conducted at the address of Nagma Khan, and no accused of this name lives at the said location. Therefore, you are requested to please pass further orders.”
Outraged by the officer’s mistake, Magistrate Khan issued a sharply worded order on March 24, calling the error “quite bizarre” and indicative of a deep lack of understanding of judicial procedure.
“Without giving an inch of attention to the process, he carelessly referred to the proclamation as an NBW and blindly recorded the name of the presiding
officer—my name—in place of the actual accused,” she wrote.
The judge emphasised that Banwarilal had neither read nor understood the court document, demonstrating what she described as “gross dereliction of duty” and “utter neglect.” She noted that the officer’s confusion between a proclamation notice and a non-bailable warrant reflected his unawareness of basic procedural responsibilities. “Such a patent and grave error reflects poorly on his professional conduct,” she observed. “It suggests he is entirely unaware of the duties enjoined upon him as a police officer.”
Magistrate Khan also warned that negligent handling of court notices poses serious risks to individual liberty and undermines public trust in the legal system.
“If negligent police officials are allowed to carry out these duties blindly and without accountability,” she said, “they may trample upon the precious fundamental rights to liberty of individuals, acting on mere whims.”
Highlighting the alarming nature of the oversight, she directed top officials—including the Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police Prashant Kumar —to take strict disciplinary action against Banwarilal to ensure such incidents are not repeated.
The episode has sparked embarrassment for the local police department and raised questions about the training and oversight of officers tasked with carrying out judicial orders.