The Rajasthan High Court has directed the Superintendent of Police, Sirohi, to reconsider whether a history sheet maintained against a local resident should continue, observing that the issue must be examined under the applicable police rules and the individual's conduct over the years.
The order was passed by Justice Rekha Borana in a criminal writ petition filed by Iqbal Khan, who challenged a 2014 order reopening his history sheet and placing him under active police surveillance.
Background of the Case
According to the petition, a history sheet had originally been opened against Iqbal Khan in 1986 because several criminal cases had been registered against him between 1986 and 1997. After those matters ended in compromise and acquittal, the history sheet was placed in the “silent bag” category in 2005.
However, in 2012, another FIR and a complaint case were registered against him. Based on these developments, the Superintendent of Police, Sirohi, reopened the history sheet through an order dated April 24, 2014.
Khan argued before the court that he had ultimately been acquitted or discharged in both matters and that continued surveillance caused hardship, including periodic preventive proceedings requiring him to furnish bonds. He also claimed that he had been actively involved in social work and had received appreciation from various organisations.
The High Court examined the provisions of the Rajasthan Police Rules, 1965, relating to history sheets and surveillance registers.
Justice Borana noted that the rules permit the opening of a history sheet for a person who is “reasonably believed to be habitually addicted to crime or to be an aider or abettor of such persons.” The court observed that the rules do not make prior conviction a mandatory requirement.
“The Rules of 1965 specifically provide that names of such persons can be entered in the surveillance register whether they have been convicted or not,” the court noted while discussing the legal framework.
The court referred to earlier judicial decisions and observed that acquittal in criminal cases does not automatically prevent police authorities from maintaining a history sheet if there are reasonable grounds supporting such action under the rules.
At the same time, the court also took note of provisions allowing closure of a personal file after a long period of good conduct and the need to assess whether the petitioner’s case still justified continued surveillance.
Without setting aside the 2014 order, the High Court disposed of the writ petition with a direction to the Superintendent of Police, Sirohi, to reconsider the petitioner’s case in light of the court’s observations and pass an appropriate order regarding the continuance or closure of the history sheet.
The court held that the matter now required fresh consideration under the relevant provisions of the Rajasthan Police Rules, 1965.
Pending applications were also disposed of.
Case Details:
Case Title: Iqbal Khan v. State of Rajasthan & Ors.
Case Number: S.B. Criminal Writ Petition No. 1662/2026
Judge: Justice Rekha Borana
Decision Date: June 5, 2026
