Reviewed case brief

R.R. Chari v. State of U.P.

AIR 1951 SC 207

One of the earliest Supreme Court decisions defining "taking cognizance" — the foundational concept in criminal procedure.

cognizanceS.228-BNSSmagistrate-powerstaking-cognizancejudicial-noticesem-5
Court
Supreme Court of India
Year
1951
Subjects
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
Reviewed
2026-06-30

Rule established

Taking cognizance under S.190 CrPC (now S.228 BNSS) means the Magistrate takes judicial notice of the commission of an offence. It does not require a formal order or express pronouncement — the act of applying mind to the complaint/report and deciding to proceed constitutes taking cognizance.

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

        How to use it in an exam

        Editorial source

        AIR

        Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.