HC quashes FIR against revenue official in land case

Jabalpur: The Jabalpur bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court quashed an FIR filed against a revenue official (patwari) for alleged irregularities in a land demarcation case. The ruling came on a plea filed by the official, Rajnandini Mishra, challenging a trial court order directing registration of an FIR. The case was filed in the year 2025.The case dates back to 2018, pertaining to revenue proceedings at Bheda village in Sleemanabad area of Katni district. It was alleged that notices were issued in the name of a person who was already dead, declaring him an encroacher.Earlier, following a complaint by the person's legal heirs, the HC had directed criminal action against those involved. A case was registered under multiple IPC sections by Sleemanabad police against several persons, including the revenue official.She moved the trial court seeking cancellation of the FIR. However, the plea was rejected, prompting her to challenge the FIR in HC. In her petition to the HC, Mishra claimed she had no role in the 2018 proceedings and wasn't even in service at the time. She claimed further to have been appointed a patwari in 2021, on compassionate grounds after her brother's death.The HC ruled in her favour, stating criminal proceedings against her would amount to misuse of the legal process.