Andhra Pradesh High Court Flags Mechanical Issuance of LOCs in 498A Cases

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has cautioned police authorities against routinely issuing Look Out Circulars (LOCs) in matrimonial cruelty cases under Section 498A IPC.

Justice K. Sreenivasa Reddy observed that LOCs, which restrict a person’s right to travel abroad, should be issued only in grave offences affecting national interest, financial integrity, or society at large.

Mechanical issuance without assessing cooperation or flight risk violates Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court quashed an LOC against a Dubai-based technician booked under Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, noting that he was cooperating with the investigation.

It held that unjustified travel restrictions can cause irreparable professional and personal harm.

[A v. The UOI & Anr.]