Magistrates have to be vigilant before issuing summons or taking cognizance of an offence

Supreme Court in the matter of Mahender Singh Dhoni Vs. Yerraguntla Shyamsundar; Transfer Petition (Criminal) no. 23 of 2016 cautioned the magistrates who have been conferred with the power of taking cognizance and issuing summons are required to carefully scrutinize whether the allegations made in the complaint meet the basic ingredients of the offence; whether the concept of territorial jurisdiction is satisfied; and whether the accused is really required to be summoned.