What is the meaning of F.I.R?
So basically the full form of F.I.R is FIRST INFORMATION REPORT. FIR is a document containing the essential details committed of a criminal offense. It should be observed that FIR is not conclusive evidence of a crime committed by an individual It is a written document or report prepared by the police based on any criminal or cognizable offense. This report is based on the information provided by the victim or any other person on behalf of the victim. FIR is the start point for an investigative process for a specific crime. A cognizable offense can be reported by anybody (who suffered from it) to the police in written or oral form. Even in some extreme cases, a victim can also report an FIR through a telephone message or can file an FIR Online.
What is the Importance of filing an F.I.R
There are lost of importance of filing an F.I.R online some are as follows-
- Helps to take immediate actions
- You don’t have to go to the physical station
- Proceed the case fast
- No missing documents
What is a complaint and who can file it?
A complaint is one where you want to report the commission or omission of an act that is an offence under the law for the time being in force.
Therefore, any allegation made against any individual person, organization, state authority would be a complaint.
Now the question arises as to who can file a complaint?
The law in our country does not necessarily require us to be the victims of an incident to file a case. This means FIRs can either be lodged by the person who is a victim or the aggrieved due to a particular incident. In normal circumstances, not all complaints need to be written, a complaint can either be oral or written Alternatively, an FIR can also be filed by a person who is not directly involved in the commission of an offence, nor is affected by it, but has witnessed it. Therefore, merely a witness to the commission of an offence has the locus standi to file a complaint, even if the actual victim does not.
How to present content in FIR?
An FIR contains the following things:
- FIR file name
- Name of the victim, or name of the person who is filing the complaint on the victim’s behalf
- Description of offense (facts of the incident)
- Date, time, and location of the crime
- Statements of witness (if any)
How to file an FIR (First Information Report)?
According to section 154 of the Act Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the 4 step procedure is given below should be followed while filing an FIR:
- The details are written down by the police provided by the victim orally about the commission of the cognizable offense.
- Then, the written form of the complaint must be read by the victim or the supplier of the information or makes a complaint. It is their duty and right to read the complaint recorded by the cop carefully to avoid any uncertainty in the future.
- The person signs the complaint or puts the left thumb impression on the document (if he/she is unable to read and write) after reading it and verifying that the details that are recorded by the police are as per the information given by him/her. The sign is required to make sure that all the information provided by him/her is relevant.
- In the end, the victim must ask for a copy of the FIR. This is also their right to have a copy of the FIR without any charges.
What is E-FIR?
E-fir means to file FIR online by visiting official portable. E-FIR made the system very easy and the complaints can be filed from home.
In India, most of the population is not aware of E-FIR.
But as we all know most of the person or complainant mainly use to go or visit police station because a large no of the population lives in rural or semirural areas which are underdeveloped and most people even today not familiar with the technology.
Which states provide filing of FIR online?
The following states allow filing an FIR online by the complainants.
- Tamil Nadu
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jharkhand
- Bengaluru city
- New Delhi
- Madhya Pradesh
- Haryana
- Odisha
- Patna city
- Kolkata city
The process of filing an FIR online in all these states is more or less similar, just visit their official police services website and search for the tab of filing a complaint or FIR online. Keep all your details ready and make sure you submit them correctly.
Significant things to bear in mind while filing FIR:
When filing an FIR you must fill in the personal data. There will be the following options:
- Enter the name of the complainant: fill in the name of the person wishing to lodge the e-FIR.
- Enter the name of the father/mother: Fill out the name of the parents of the complainant.
- Enter the Address of the complainant: full address should be entered
- Enter the telephone number of the plaintiff: the mobile number works for the plaintiff.
- Enter the email ID of the complainant: Email-ID is relevant as you will receive a copy of your e-FIR by email for verification.
FIR information can’t be changed: You can’t change the contents of the FIR until you file an FIR. On the other hand, at any point afterward, you may give the police additional details.
Online FIR in Delhi
Step 1: Open the website of the Delhi police.
Step 2: Fill in the details like your name, father\ mother’s name, address and email id, and mobile number.
Step 3: Submit the form. See here a detailed guide to filing online FIR in Delhi.
How to file a fir online in New Delhi?
- Step 1: Go to the official website of the concerned police station. The concerned police station will be depended upon the place of incident you want to complain against. A simple Google search will give you the official website of the police station. (For example: For Delhi Police, visit the Delhi Police official website https://delhipolice.gov.in/).
- Step 2: Generally, on most of the police websites, on the home page there will be an option, “Service”. Search for the tag and click on it to move further in filing your complaint.
- Step 3: Once you click on the Services tab, there appears a drop-down with many options These are the different categories of cases. Depending upon the nature of your complaint, select the category which fits you best.
- Step 4: Once you select the appropriate category, you will be redirected to a new page. Here, you must fill in the details based on the nature of your complaint. Then click the Search/Submit tab. Be very careful with the details and re-check them before submitting them.
- Step 5: If you have filled in all the details and submitted them, you will receive a copy of the FIR via an email at your registered email address.
What can you do if your FIR is not registered?
It is illegal to not register an FIR. The remedies available are:
- You can meet the Superintendent of Police or other higher officers like Deputy Inspector General of Police & Inspector General of Police and bring your complaint to their notice.
- You can send your complaint in writing and by post to the Superintendent of Police concerned. If the Superintendent of Police is satisfied with your complaint, he shall either investigate the case himself or order an investigation to be made.
- You can file a private complaint before the court having jurisdiction.
- You can also make a complaint to the State Human Rights Commission or the National Human Rights Commission if the police do nothing to enforce the law or do it in a biased and corrupt manner.
What is the next step after filing an FIR?
The police conduct investigation, which may include arrests. Once the investigation has been concluded the police will record all their findings in a Challan or charge sheet. If it is deemed that there is enough proof on the charge sheet the case goes to court.
On the flipside, after their investigations, if the police conclude that there is not enough evidence or proof that a crime has been, committed they can close the case after justifying their reasons in court. If the police decide to close the case, they are bound to inform the person who filed the FIR of their decision.
Hope this article will help you to file an FIR online. If you are looking for a solution to the consumer complaint then you can file a complaint now!