# Delhi High Court clarifies sanction rule for former public servants

2026-08-06T18:41:04+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

The Delhi High Court has ruled that prior sanction is not needed to prosecute former public servants when a court took cognisance of the alleged offence before July 26, 2018. A Division Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja interpreted Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act after a reference from a special CBI court. The 2018 amendment applies to offences committed earlier if cognisance had not been taken by July 26, the court held. Its protection covers former officials and those no longer holding the relevant office. But cases already taken up before that date will not be reopened, and no fresh sanction is required.

## Coverage

- barandbench.com <https://www.barandbench.com/news/is-prior-sanction-needed-to-prosecute-ex-civil-servants-for-offences-before-2018-amendment-to-pc-act-delhi-hc-answers>
- livelaw.in <https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/delhi-high-court/corruption-act-2018-amendment-not-retrospective-if-cognizance-taken-544701>

Tags: CBI, Delhi High Court, Prevention of Corruption Act, prior sanction
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