📊 Cognizable vs Non-Cognizable – Quick Chart
| Sr | Act | Commonly Invoked Section | Cognizable / Non-Cognizable | Bailable / Non-Bailable | Leading Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act | Sec 31 (Breach) | Cognizable | Non-Bailable | Kunapareddy v. Kunapareddy Swarna Kumari |
| 2 | Code of Criminal Procedure | Sec 125 (Maintenance default) | Non-Cognizable | Bailable | Rajnesh v. Neha |
| 3 | Arms Act | Sec 25 | Cognizable | Non-Bailable | Gunwantlal v. State of M.P. |
| 4 | Gujarat Prohibition Act | Sec 66(1)(b) | Cognizable | Bailable (small qty) | Gujarat HC (regular bail practice) |
| 5 | Public Gambling Act | Sec 4/5 | Cognizable | Bailable | State of A.P. v. K. Satyanarayana |
| 6 | Juvenile Justice Act | Sec 12 | Cognizable | Bail is Rule | Shilpa Mittal v. State (NCT of Delhi) |
| 7 | Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act | Sec 3/4 | Cognizable | Usually Bailable (minor role) | Various SC rulings |
| 8 | Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act | Sec 23 | Cognizable | Non-Bailable | Voluntary Health Association of Punjab v. Union of India |
| 9 | Motor Vehicles Act | Sec 184/185 | Cognizable | Bailable | Traffic jurisprudence |
| 10 | Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act | Sec 7/8 | Cognizable | Non-Bailable | Satish Ragde v. State of Maharashtra |
| 11 | Information Technology Act | Sec 66C/66D | Cognizable | Bailable (≤3 yrs) | SC Cyber cases |
| 12 | Drugs and Cosmetics Act | Sec 27 (minor breach) | Cognizable | Bailable (technical) | SC pharma rulings |
| 13 | Food Safety and Standards Act | Sec 59 (minor) | Cognizable | Bailable | Food safety cases |
| 14 | Essential Commodities Act | Sec 7 | Cognizable | Often Bailable | Post-amendment cases |
| 15 | Indian Forest Act | Sec 26 | Cognizable | Bailable | Forest offence cases |
| 16 | Gujarat Police Act | Sec 135 | Cognizable | Bailable | Gujarat HC rulings |
| 17 | Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act | Sec 20 | Non-Cognizable | Bailable | COTPA cases |
| 18 | Negotiable Instruments Act | Sec 138 | Non-Cognizable (Complaint case) | Bailable | Dashrath Rupsingh Rathod v. State of Maharashtra |
| 19 | Indian Penal Code | Sec 323 (simple hurt) | Cognizable | Bailable | SC general rulings |
| 20 | Indian Penal Code | Sec 504/506 (minor) | Cognizable (Part I) | Bailable | Bail jurisprudence |
⚖ Quick Understanding
🔹 Cognizable Offence
• Police can register FIR
• Arrest without warrant
• Investigation without court order
🔹 Non-Cognizable Offence
• Police need Magistrate order to investigate
• No arrest without warrant
📌 Important Bail Principle Applicable to Most Minor Acts
• Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar – No automatic arrest for offences punishable up to 7 years.
• Satender Kumar Antil v. CBI – Bail is rule, jail is exception.
• Sanjay Chandra v. CBI – Bail cannot be punitive.