The correct option is (a) 1 only.
Explanation
The Station House Officer (S.H.O.) is the officer in charge of a police station. Their powers regarding the registration of cases and investigation are primarily governed by the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, and respective State Police Acts.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: The S.H.O. is officially the officer in charge of a police station, responsible for its administration, the maintenance of law and order, and the registration of crimes within its jurisdiction.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The S.H.O. is not legally bound to personally investigate every complaint. Under Section 157 of the CrPC, the officer in charge can depute a subordinate officer to conduct the investigation. While they supervise the process, personal investigation of every minor complaint is neither mandated nor administratively feasible.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The S.H.O. does not have the discretion to "dismiss" complaints.
- If a complaint discloses a cognizable offense, the police are mandatorily required to register an FIR (Lalita Kumari vs. Govt. of U.P.).
- If the officer determines there is no sufficient ground for investigation (Section 157(b) CrPC), they may refuse to investigate, but they must record reasons and notify the informant.
- The legal power to "dismiss" a complaint lies with the Magistrate (e.g., under Section 203 CrPC), not the police.
Key Takeaway:
The S.H.O. manages the police station and delegates investigations to subordinates. The police investigate and file reports; the judicial power to dismiss a complaint rests solely with the Magistrate.