Section 17A of the PC Act requires prior approval for:

Section 17A, inserted by the 2018 amendment, mandates prior approval before conducting any enquiry or investigation into decisions or recommendations made by a public servant while discharging official functions. The provision was introduced to protect policy decisions and administrative discretion from retrospective criminal scrutiny. It does not apply to arrest, filing of charge-sheet, or trap proceedings, nor does it cover disproportionate assets cases. Hence, its scope is limited strictly to investigation of official decision-making.