LAHORE: In an unprecedented incident inside Lahore’s judicial premises, police have registered a theft case involving the disappearance of two apples and a bottle of hand wash from an additional sessions judge’s chamber. The case, filed at Islampura Police Station, marks a rare example of minor items prompting formal legal action within court boundaries.
Incident Details
According to the FIR, the items went missing from the judge’s chamber on December 5, with their total value assessed at Rs1,000. The judge’s reader lodged the complaint, leading police to formally initiate proceedings. The case has been registered under Section 380 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with theft in buildings used for the custody of property.
Police have begun investigating, treating the matter with the same procedural seriousness applied to all cognizable offenses.
Legal Implications
Legal experts note that Section 380 carries a maximum penalty of seven years, a fine, or both—subject to the court’s discretion. One lawyer stressed that under Pakistani law, “whether the theft is of one rupee or one crore rupees, it remains a cognizable crime.”
Experts argue that the consistent application of justice, irrespective of the monetary value involved, reinforces the principle of equality before the law.
Significance of the Case
Court staff confirmed that this is the first time such minor items have been reported stolen from a judge’s private chamber. The decision to file an FIR underscores the judiciary’s strict stance on maintaining decorum, enforcing security, and preserving the sanctity of court premises.
The unusual nature of the stolen items has drawn public attention, but officials maintain that safeguarding judicial spaces requires treating all breaches—regardless of scale—with utmost seriousness.
