Information to Police & the FIR (Ss. 154–158)
Chapter XIV (Ss. 154–176) governs information to police and their power to investigate.
- Section 154: Information regarding a cognizable offence can be given by an aggrieved person, leading to registration of the FIR.
- Nature of duty: Registration of an FIR is a statutory duty of the officer in charge of the police station.
- Who can lodge FIR info: FIR can be lodged by the officer in charge on the information of any person.
- Structure of FIR: An FIR has 6 columns.
- Signature: An FIR needs to be signed by the informer.
- Reading over: The officer in charge shall read over all information given to the informer or complainant after reducing it to writing.
- Offences against women (Ss. 336B, 354/509, 354A): Information given by such a woman shall be recorded by the investigating officer in the presence of a female police officer or female family member, with consent of the complainant (all sections covered).
- Recording at residence: In cases under Ss. 336, 354A, 509, the IO may record information at the residence of the complainant in presence of a female police officer or family member.
- Prime object of FIR: To set the criminal justice machinery in motion.
- Section 158(1): Every report sent to a Magistrate under S. 157 shall, if the Provincial Government so directs, be submitted through such Superior Officer of Police as appointed.