FIR, Zero FIR & the *Lalita Kumari* Mandate — KSLU Bnss Notes

FIR, Zero FIR & the Lalita Kumari Mandate

The First Information Report (S.173) is the first information that discloses the commission of a cognizable offence, recorded in writing and signed by the informant; it sets the criminal-law machinery in motion. A cryptic or vague telephonic message that merely prompts the police to reach the scene is not an FIR — the first detailed information disclosing a cognizable offence is.

flowchart TD
    A["Information of a COGNIZABLE offence (S.173)"]:::root
    A --> B["Registration is MANDATORY<br/>(Lalita Kumari v. State of U.P.)"]:::yes
    B --> C["Wrong jurisdiction? -> register a<br/>ZERO FIR, transfer to proper station"]:::yes
    A --> D["Officer refuses to register?"]:::q
    D --> E["Complain to the SP (S.173(4))"]:::leaf
    D --> F["Move the Magistrate (S.175)<br/>who may direct registration"]:::leaf

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    classDef yes fill:#E6FFE6,stroke:#1E7A1E,color:#000;
    classDef q fill:#E6F3FF,stroke:#1E3A8A,color:#000;
    classDef leaf fill:#EFEFEF,stroke:#555,color:#000;
    linkStyle default stroke:#888,stroke-width:1px;

Lalita Kumari v. Government of U.P. (2014) made registration of an FIR mandatory where the information discloses a cognizable offence — the officer has no discretion to refuse, though a preliminary inquiry is permitted in a narrow set of categories (matrimonial, commercial, medical-negligence, corruption and abnormally delayed cases). A Zero FIR must be registered at any police station irrespective of territorial jurisdiction and then transferred to the station having jurisdiction. The BNSS also introduces electronic FIR (e-FIR) and time-bound forwarding.