Context: In Manipur, “Zero First Information Reports” have been made about alleged rape, murder, kidnapping, and sexual harassment.
Zero FIR (ZFR)
When a police station receives a complaint regarding an alleged offence that has been committed in the jurisdiction of another police station, it registers an FIR and then transfers it to the relevant police station for further investigation. This is called a Zero FIR.
- No regular FIR number is given.
- After receiving the Zero FIR, the revenant police station registers a fresh FIR and starts the investigation.
- This puts a legal obligation on the police to begin investigation and take quick action without the excuse of absence of jurisdiction.
History of ZFR
- The provision of Zero FIR came up after the recommendation in the report of the Justice Verma Committee.
- The committee was constituted to suggest amendments to the Criminal Law in a bid to provide for faster trial and enhanced punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual assault against women.
Objective of ZFR
- The objective of a Zero FIR is to ensure the victims that are unable to get a police complaint registered in one area can do it in another.
- The provision is meant to provide speedy redressal to the victim so that timely action can be taken after the filing of the FIR.
First Information Report (FIR)
The term first information report (FIR) is not defined in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, or in any other law, but in police regulations or rules, information recorded under Section 154 of CrPC is known as First Information Report (FIR).
Section 154 (“Information in cognizable cases”) says:
“every information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence, if given orally to an officer in charge of a police station, shall be reduced to writing by him or under his direction, and be read over to the informant; and every such information, whether given in writing or reduced to writing as aforesaid, shall be signed by the person giving it, and the substance thereof shall be entered in a book to be kept by such officer in such form as the State Government may prescribe”.
Three important elements of an FIR:
- The information must relate to the commission of a cognizable offence.
- It should be given in writing or orally to the head of the police station.
- It must be written down and signed by the informant, and its key points should be recorded in a daily diary.
Filing of a FIR
- FIR can be filed by any person.
- He need not necessarily be the victim or the injured or an eye-witness.
- FIR may be merely hearsay and need not necessarily be given by the person who has firsthand knowledge of the facts.
Cases related to FIR
Lalita Kumari v. Government of U.P.Supreme court observed that it is mandatory to register a FIR under Section 154 if the complaint is related to a cognizable offence.
