About Zero FIR:
- What is it? It refers to an FIR that is registered irrespective of the area where the offence is committed.
- The police, in such a case, can no longer claim that they have no jurisdiction.
- Such an FIR is then later transferred to the police station that has the actual jurisdiction so that the investigation can begin.
- It was introduced on the recommendation of the Justice Verma Committee formed at the backdrop of the brutal Nirbhaya gang rape in Delhi in 2012.
- This puts a legal obligation on the police to begin an investigation and take quick action without the excuse of the absence of jurisdiction.
What is a first information report (FIR)?
- It is the information given to a police officer in writing as per the provisions of Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
- From the point of view of an informant, the main purpose of an FIR is to set criminal law into motion.
- While for the police, the main purpose of an FIR is to obtain information about alleged criminal activity and take necessary steps to produce the perpetrator(s) before a court.
The objective of a Zero FIR
- To avoid delay and any other kind of disruptions.
- To make police bound to take the jurisdiction.
- Timely jurisdiction is to be taken immediately after the registration of the FIR.
- To make sure that the investigation is done properly.
- To enable the case to proceed fast.
