The horrendous news reports of the Manipur incident left the heart and mind of the entire nation in shambles. The utter shock and terror springing out of the reported atrocities incurred on the victims is genuinely unbecoming for any civilized society. Following the incident, a Zero FIR was filed in Manipur. In this article, we shed light on explaining the Zero FIR and how it differs from the regular FIR filed.
What’s an FIR?
Abbreviated as First Information Report, it is a crucial document for kick-starting any criminal justice process. The police collate the document after receiving information on committing any cognizable offense. Usually, the data is documented by the victim’s accounts or by someone else reporting it on their behalf. The investigation procedure for any case starts only after lodging an FIR.
The filing of an FIR is followed by the collection of evidence by police, either testimonials or scientific evidence. A charge sheet is filed after collating substantial evidence corroborating the reported cognizance. In case of insufficient evidence, a Final Report is filed in court. If the investigation finds no commission of the offence, then a cancellation report is filed, or an untraced report is filed in case of no findings of the accused. The power still resides in the hands of the court to further continue the investigation if it’s not satisfied with the investigation.
What is Zero FIR?
Legally the FIR is filed in the police station, which has jurisdiction over the place where the crime has been committed. However, the gruesome incident of the Nirbhaya case moved the court to create provisional changes. Owing to that, the Justice Verma Committee was set up. The idea behind the setting up of the committee was to suggest changes to the Criminal Law that would speed up the trial process and enhance the punishment for sexual crimes against women. The provision of Zero FIR is a product of the recommendations made by the Justice Verma Verma Committee.
Zero FIR refers to registering a complaint by a police station that does not hold any jurisdiction over the area where the criminal offense has been committed and then transferring it to the designated police station to put in motion the investigation process. In filing a Zero FIR, a regular FIR number is not assigned to the complaint when the police station has transferred the FIR to the relevant station, the concerned station lodges a fresh FIR to start the investigation procedure further.
Purpose
The provision of Zero FIR is relatively new, birthed only after 2012. The aftermath of the Nirbhaya case put a moral obligation on the entire police service of India and of Delhi, specifically to enhance the safety and security of people and women. The objective of the Zero FIR was to ensure that the injured party of any offense wasn’t made to rush and haste door to door of every police station only to register the complaint. The reform also aims to provide timely and fastened justice to the survivor after registering the complaint.
