CrPC Section 154 — Information in cognizable cases (FIR)

What does this section state?

Section 154 requires that information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence, given to an officer in charge of a police station, be reduced to writing, read over to the informant, and signed by them, with a copy entered into a book maintained for this purpose. This is the provision that governs registration of a First Information Report, or FIR — the document that formally starts a criminal investigation.

The Supreme Court has held that registering an FIR is mandatory once information disclosing a cognizable offence is received, and police cannot refuse to register one merely because they doubt its truthfulness — any such doubts are to be resolved through investigation, not by refusing registration outright. Courts have carved out narrow exceptions requiring preliminary inquiry only for certain categories of cases, such as matrimonial or commercial disputes, before formal registration.

For offences committed on or after 1 July 2024, the equivalent provision is Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which also formally codifies the "Zero FIR" principle, allowing a person to report a cognizable offence at any police station regardless of where the offence occurred.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this provision actually do?

See the explanation above. This is a civil, procedural, or constitutional provision rather than a criminal offence, so it doesn't carry a punishment — it defines a right, remedy, or procedure instead.

What is a "Zero FIR" and how does it work?

A Zero FIR allows a person to report a cognizable offence at any police station, regardless of where the crime actually occurred, with the FIR later transferred to the police station with proper jurisdiction — this principle is now expressly codified under Section 173 of the BNSS.

Can police refuse to register an FIR?

No — the Supreme Court has held that registration is mandatory once information disclosing a cognizable offence is received, though a limited preliminary inquiry is permitted for certain categories of cases, such as matrimonial or commercial disputes, before registration.

What can someone do if the police refuse to file an FIR?

A person can approach the Superintendent of Police in writing under Section 154(3), or directly approach a magistrate under Section 156(3) of the CrPC to direct the police to register and investigate the complaint.