Cops Refusing FIRs Over Jurisdiction To Face Music In Patiala

From now on, policemen who do not register a First Information Report (FIR) on the grounds of territorial jurisdiction, will be prosecuted. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed the state police to register an FIR even when police personnel receive a complaint about a crime committed outside the jurisdiction of their police station.

If the officer concerned declines to register the FIR, citing jurisdiction limitation, he/she could be prosecuted or face departmental action.

This is a welcome decision for the victims who have often had to run from pillar to post to get an FIR registered owing to a conflict over jurisdiction of the police stations.

A senior IPS officer said the delay over determining jurisdiction and consequently registering the FIR often helped the criminals get away.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in its letter further states that if at the time of registration of FIR, it becomes apparent that the crime was committed outside the jurisdiction of the police station, the police should be appropriately instructed to register a “zero” FIR, and ensure that the FIR is transferred to the police station concerned under Section 170 of the CrPC.”

It says that failure to register an FIR on the receipt of information about the cognizable offence will invite prosecution of the police officer under Section 166-A of the IPC or he will face departmental action or both.

Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police HS Mann said the instructions had been forwarded to all officers.