*Importance of Zero FIR*

FIR stands for First Information Report & every FIR has serial no, date of occurrence, time of occurrence, place of occurrence, contents of complaint etc. and it is lodged because of commission of cognizable offence (an offence in which police can take suo moto action and no prior approval from court is required). Every police station has jurisdictional area for which they can take up the investigation if commission of cognizable offence area found under their jurisdiction. Suppose my phone is theft at Bus stand of Lal Quila , Delhi then the police station whose under Lal Quila comes will lodge my FIR and investigate it.

But in Zero FIR, any police station can register FIR irrespective of jurisdictional area but the investigation will be taken up by the police in which place of occurrence reported in FIR. The police station register the zero FIR marking it serial no. zero and transfers it to the competent jurisdictional area which can carry out the investigation.

*Take a famous example of Aasaram Bapu Rape case*

In the FIR, the place of occurence of offence falls under the jurisdiction of Jodhpur, Rajasthan but the Kamla Market Police Station, Delhi registered the FIR, then transferred it to Jodhpur, for further investigation.Then Jodhpur police had taken up the investigation.

The sanctity of legal process remains the same in zero FIR. It is very helpful for people, as it facilitate them by not allowing to make rounds of different police station for lodging the FIR.

As per the Sec 154 of Criminal procedure Code, every Police officer is law bound to register the First Information Report of any cognizable offence committed, irrespective of the jurisdiction in which the offence was committed. When a cognizable offence is reported, the police officer registering the case forthwith starts the investigation, if it is committed in his jurisdiction. if it is not committed in his jurisdiction, he registers the FIR under number ’00’ and sends it to the police station, where the offence was committed for further investigation. Such FIR is called as zero FIR. It is for the convenience of the victim that instead of making him run from pillar to post, the police officer, where the victim approaches as per his convenience, the case is recorded and police officer sends it to the concerned police station.

Zero FIR can be registered at any police station across India irrespective of jurisdictional area. The FIR is then transferred to the concerned police station. Zero FIR is an important instrument in the hands of the common people in India to get their grievances registered with the police, which they cannot refuse. Police is bound to register FIR in case of cognizable offence.

It happens many time that the complainant goes to a Police station knowingly or unknowingly to report a complaint. Every Police station has a declared jurisdiction for it. If the complaint reported appears to be not from their jurisdiction, then they will have to record the FIR in usual manner and send it to the Police station having jurisdiction over the place of offence recorded in the FIR for further action at their end. Sometimes lawyers play a important role to clarify authorities. As per the procedure, after FIR is recorded, it is given a crime number and the investigation commences. But in the present case, instead of giving crime number, the FIR is given a zero number. This is why the FIR in such case is called zero FIR. For example, you are travelling in a bus from one area of a city to another area. In between the bus stops at a bus stop. A criminal standing next to you snatches your mobile phone and gets down and runs away. You cannot get down but continue the travel. You get down at the destination and go to nearest police station and report it. They inform you that the offence occurred in another P. Stn area. They should record your FIR. Give it a zero number and send it to the concerned Police station. You will have to follow up the case at that police station.