Police Cannot Interfere In Pending Civil Disputes Or Act As Arbitrators In Private Property Conflicts: Andhra Pradesh High Court

"In the scheme of Constitution of India, duty to resolve civil dispute is entrusted to judiciary and police have no such power and involvement of police in a pending civil dispute or potential civil dispute between two citizens or two groups of citizens is not within the provisions of the police." Andhra Pradesh High Court, in a ruling dated September 23, 2026, held that the police lack the jurisdiction to interfere in matters that are purely civil in nature, particularly when those disputes are already sub-judice.

A bench of Smt. Justice Sunitha Gandham emphasized that police machinery cannot be utilized to compel parties to settle civil litigation or vacate property.

Police Authority Restricted to Criminal Law

The matter originated from a Writ Petition filed by one Vadde Ambi, who alleged that local police officials were repeatedly summoning him to the station and threatening him to withdraw a pending civil suit, O.S. No. 121 of 2019, concerning a land dispute in Kurnool District. The petitioner contended that such high-handed conduct by the Station House Officer violated his fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19, 21, and 300-A of the Constitution of India.

Core Legal Questions

The primary issue before the Court was whether the police can exert pressure on parties to a civil suit to settle or abandon their legal claims. Additionally, the Court examined the extent of police authority in matters where a concurrent criminal complaint exists alongside a pending civil dispute, and whether such intervention amounts to an overreach of the police's statutory role.

No Role for Police in Civil Adjudication

The Court observed that it is a well-settled principle of law that the police have no mandate to adjudicate or interfere in civil disputes. The Court clarified that the Constitution of India entrusts the resolution of such conflicts exclusively to the judiciary, and any attempt by the police to act as arbiters in private property disputes is legally impermissible.

Limitation on Interference

The Court underscored that police interference in a pending or potential civil dispute between citizens is not sanctioned by any provision of law. The bench held that where a dispute is purely civil, the police must refrain from deploying their machinery to influence the outcome of pending litigation or to pressure parties into compliance regarding land possession or cultivation.

"The duty to resolve civil dispute is entrusted to the judiciary and police have no such power."

Police Undertaking and Court Direction

During the proceedings, the Assistant Government Pleader submitted an instruction stating that the police would not interfere in the civil disputes pending between the petitioner and the defendants. Recording this undertaking, the Court disposed of the petition with a clear directive to the authorities.

Strict Adherence to Law

The Court explicitly directed the respondents not to interfere in the ongoing civil disputes or compel the petitioner to settle matters through police station summons. However, the Court provided a safeguard, noting that this order does not prevent the police from taking action strictly in accordance with law if criminal activities occur and the facts and circumstances warrant such legal intervention.

Date of Decision: 23 September 2026