SC:"while exercising powers under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. Magistrate requires to exercise his minds"

The scope of the above mentioned provision came up for consideration before the Hon'ble Apex Court in several cases. In Maksud Saiyed case(supra)the Hon'ble Supreme Court examined the requirement of the application of min by the Magistrate before exercising jurisdiction under Section 156(3) and held that where a jurisdiction is exercised on a complaint filed in terms of Section 156(3) or Section 200 Cr.P.C., the Magistrate is required to apply his mind, in such a case, the Special Judge/Magistrate cannot refer the matter under Section 156(3) against a public servant without a valid sanction order. The application of mind by the Magistrate should be reflected in the order. The mere statement that he has gone through the complaint, documents and heard the complainant, as such, as reflected in the order, will not be sufficient. After going through the complaint, documents and hearing the complainant, what weighed with the Magistrate to order investigation under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C., should be reflected in the order.The same observation is again confirmed by the Apex Court yesterday, while dismissing CRIMINAL APPEAL NOS. 1590-1591 OF 2013 between Anilkumar v/s M.K. Aiyappa. The Apex Court has further observed therein that "In order that the public servant may not be unnecessarily harassed on a complaint of an unscrupulous person, it is obligatory on the part of the executive authority to protect him….. If the law requires sanction, and the court proceeds against a public servant without sanction, the public servant has a right to raise the issue of jurisdiction as the entire action may be rendered void ab-initio.