ZERO FIR

03.04.2024

ZERO FIR

Why in the news?                                                                     

Recently, zero FIR has been registered against KTR for making objectionable remarks against Telangana CM.

Important points:

• The police have registered a case under sections 504 and 505 of the IPC.
• Banjara Hills Police has registered a zero FIR against former minister and Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi working president KT Rama Rao for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
• KT Rama Rao had given the statement at Telangana Bhavan about CM Revanth Reddy collecting Rs 2,500 crore from the public including builders and traders and handing it over to the party high command at the central level.
• Besides, he has also been accused of making objectionable comments.

About Zero FIR:

• Under Zero FIR, the victim or any acquaintance, relative or eyewitness of that person can lodge an FIR in any police station, this is called Zero FIR.
• On the basis of Zero FIR, the police starts its proceedings or investigation, later the case is transferred to the police station of the concerned area.
• It refers to the First Investigation Report (FIR) which is filed regardless of the area where the crime has occurred.
• In such a case, the police cannot claim that it has no jurisdiction.
• Zero FIR, which can be registered by any police station when it receives a complaint regarding any cognizable offense.
• No regular FIR number is assigned at this stage.
• It is later transferred to the police station that has actual jurisdiction so that investigation can begin.
• It was introduced on the recommendation of the Justice Verma Committee constituted in the backdrop of the brutal Nirbhaya gang rape in Delhi in 2012.
• It imposes a legal obligation on the police to initiate investigation and take prompt action without the excuse of lack of jurisdiction.

Main objectives of Zero FIR:

• The main objective of Zero FIR is that the victim does not have to run from pillar to post to lodge a complaint with the police.
• This provision is to provide quick redress to the victim so that timely action can be taken after the FIR is registered.

About FIR (First Information Report):

• Information lodged with the police for action regarding a (criminal) incident is called an FIR or First Information Report (FIR).
• First Information Report or FIR is a written document.
• It is information given by a police officer on duty to the victim or any other person about an alleged crime.
• It is not defined in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 or any other law.
• The information recorded under Section 154 of CrPC in the police rules or regulations is known as First Information Report (FIR).

                               Source: The Hindu