A short collection of judgments about Look Out Circular Notices.
- Sumer Singh Salkan Vs Asstt Director and Ors on 11 Aug 2010 [DHC: issued certain guidelines to be followed for issuing Look Out Circulars]
- S.Martin Vs The Deputy Commissioner of Police on 21 Feb 2014 [MadHC: LOC can be withdrawn by the authorities concerned, who issued the same. Indeed, the Criminal Court’s jurisdiction in cancelling LOC or affirming the same is quite in tune with the jurisdiction of cancellation of Non Bailable Warrant]
- Rashmi Raikhy & Anr Vs The State of NCT Delhi & Ors on 1 Feb 2018 [DelhiHC: LOC cannot be mechanically issued in matrimonial disputes when accused are not absconding.]
- Gattupalli Ujwal Vs State of Andhra Pradesh and Ors on 30 Oct 2019 [APHC: Follows Sumer Singh Salkan Vs Asstt Director and Ors on 11 Aug 2010]
- Vikas Chaudhary Vs Union of India and Ors on 12 Jan 2022 [DHC: No LOC may be issued when no proceedings under any penal law have, in fact, been initiated]
- Noor Paul Vs Union of India and Ors on 05 Apr 2022 [PHHC: Non-supply of a copy of the LOC to the subject of the LOC at the time the subject is stopped at the airport for travel abroad, non-supply of reasons for issuing LOC , and absence of a post decisional hearing to the subject of the LOC, is not just, fair and reasonable procedure and therefore it is violative of Art.21 of the Constitution of India]
- However, the said directions are currently stayed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Bank of India v. Noor Paul S.L.P.(C) No. 7733/2022. Last listing on 26-Sep-2022!) Jai ho, SCI!
- Leena Rakesh Vs Bureau of Immigration on 20 Jun 2022 [KarHC: ]
- Yerramilli Srinivas Vs State of Telangana and 2 Ors on 09 Jan 2023 [TSHC: Practice of Telangana Police in not sending delete LOC requests to BoI, after a competent Criminal Court grants bail to an accused]
- Bagadi Santhosh Kumar Vs Union of India and Ors on 12 Mar 2025 [APHC : Look-Out Circulars cannot be issued routinely and directed withdrawal of LOC affecting personal liberty.]
- Mohammed Azeem Vs Saheeba and Ors on 22 Sep 2025 [KarHC : Family Courts cannot issue Look Out Circulars for recovery of maintenance under Section 125 CrPC.]
- Lagubeeru Venkata Arun Kiran Vs Union of India and Ors on 04 Feb 2026 [APHC: Look-Out Circulars could be issued in exceptional cases where the departure of the person concerned will be detrimental to the sovereignty, security and integrity of India or is detrimental to the bilateral relations with any country or to the strategic and/or economic interests of India or that person may potentially indulge in an act of terrorism or offence against the State, if such person is allowed to leave or where travel ought not be permitted in the larger public interest at any given point of time.]
MASTER INDEX is here.
Frequently Asked Questions – Look Out Circular (LOC) Jurisprudence in India
A Look Out Circular (LOC) is an alert issued by law enforcement authorities to immigration, police and border control agencies to prevent a person from leaving the country, usually where that person is an accused in a criminal investigation or trial. LOCs are intended to ensure that individuals do not evade court process or investigation.
Judicial decisions hold that LOCs should only be issued when there is reasonable apprehension that an accused may evade justice — for example:
- The individual is absconding or likely to escape.
- There is a pending investigation or trial under a penal statute.
Issuing an LOC without such circumstances is generally considered unjustified.
Yes. Courts have repeatedly held that:
- The authority that issued the LOC can withdraw it.
- Criminal courts can cancel or affirm an LOC on application, similar to the manner in which non-bailable warrants can be cancelled.
This ensures judicial oversight over LOC issuance and helps protect fundamental liberties.
No. Decisions such as Vikas Chaudhary v. Union of India emphasise that an LOC cannot be issued in the absence of criminal proceedings, since there is no basis to believe the person is evading investigation or trial.
Yes. The Punjab & Haryana High Court in Noor Paul v. Union of India held that non-supply of the LOC copy, lack of reasons for issuance, and absence of any hearing violate principles of natural justice and Article 21 of the Constitution of India (protection of life and personal liberty).
No. Courts have rejected the practice of issuing LOCs in contexts not grounded in criminal law, such as:
- Maintenance enforcement under Section 125 CrPC (as reiterated by Karnataka High Court), and
- Money recovery in civil or financial disputes.
LOC powers are for criminal process enforcement, not civil remedies.
Yes. In cases such as Yerramilli Srinivas v. State of Telangana, courts admonished police for not sending delete LOC requests to immigration authorities after bail has been granted, stressing that LOCs should not remain active once the accused appears or complies with court orders.
Yes. LOCs can restrict a person’s right to travel abroad, which is part of the fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution (right to life and personal liberty). Therefore, LOC issuance must satisfy reasonableness, fairness, and due process.
Some judgments (e.g., Lagubeeru Venkata Arun Kiran v. Union of India) state that LOCs may be justified only in exceptional circumstances, such as where departure of a person may be damaging to national security, sovereignty, or strategic interests — not as an ordinary procedural measure.
No. High Courts (e.g., Telangana High Court) have clarified that complainants do not have a fundamental right to insist upon issuance of an LOC — it is a discretionary executive/ investigative action guided by law, not by individual entitlement.
Constitutional courts have directed that:
- LOCs must be withdrawn or deleted when they are no longer required.
- Investigating authorities must regularly review LOCs and update immigration authorities.
Failure to do so can lead to judicial intervention or orders mandating LOC deletion.
