Andhra Pradesh High Court Seeks Centre’s Reply in Challenge to Prosecutorial Veto Under BNSS

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued notice to the Union government in a petition challenging Section 20(8) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), under which prosecution officials may “examine and scrutinise” police chargesheets in offences punishable with 7–10 years’ imprisonment. 

The petitioner argues that this power to vet chargesheets encroaches upon the independent domain of police investigation, violating Articles 14 and 21 by introducing arbitrary interference. 

A bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Raghunandan Rao will hear the matter further once the Union government files its reply.