{"id":30842,"date":"2026-08-22T12:04:44","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T12:04:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=30842"},"modified":"2026-08-22T12:07:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T12:07:51","slug":"who-can-draw-and-register-an-fir-the-role-of-the-officer-in-charge-and-superior-police-officers-under-the-bnss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/who-can-draw-and-register-an-fir-the-role-of-the-officer-in-charge-and-superior-police-officers-under-the-bnss\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Can Draw and Register an FIR? The Role of the Officer-in-Charge and Superior Police Officers Under the BNSS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 id=\"h-introduction\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction\"><\/span>Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The expression &#8220;lodging an FIR&#8221; is frequently used as a blanket term that obscures the operational boundaries between giving information, recording it, registering the report, and exercising investigative control. Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), these steps are governed by distinct statutory authorities designed to ensure both functional efficiency and hierarchy-wide accountability.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/who-can-draw-and-register-an-fir-the-role-of-the-officer-in-charge-and-superior-police-officers-under-the-bnss\/#Introduction\" >Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/who-can-draw-and-register-an-fir-the-role-of-the-officer-in-charge-and-superior-police-officers-under-the-bnss\/#Core_Statutory_Framework_Section_173_vs_Section_30_BNSS\" >Core Statutory Framework: Section 173 vs. Section 30 BNSS<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/who-can-draw-and-register-an-fir-the-role-of-the-officer-in-charge-and-superior-police-officers-under-the-bnss\/#Conceptual_Distinction_Concurrent_Power_vs_Specific_Remedy\" >Conceptual Distinction: Concurrent Power vs. Specific Remedy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/who-can-draw-and-register-an-fir-the-role-of-the-officer-in-charge-and-superior-police-officers-under-the-bnss\/#Operational_Escalation_Hierarchy\" >Operational Escalation Hierarchy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/who-can-draw-and-register-an-fir-the-role-of-the-officer-in-charge-and-superior-police-officers-under-the-bnss\/#Key_Legal_Takeaways\" >Key Legal Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/who-can-draw-and-register-an-fir-the-role-of-the-officer-in-charge-and-superior-police-officers-under-the-bnss\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Section 173 BNSS establishes the Station House Officer (SHO)\/Officer-in-Charge (OC) as the primary authority for receiving information on cognisable offences, Section 30 BNSS vests superior police officers with concurrent statutory powers across their territorial jurisdictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-core-statutory-framework-section-173-vs-section-30-bnss\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Core_Statutory_Framework_Section_173_vs_Section_30_BNSS\"><\/span>Core Statutory Framework: Section 173 vs. Section 30 BNSS<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding police authority over first information reports requires distinguishing between ordinary police station-level registration, superior officer intervention, and specific grievance remedies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Provision<\/th><th>Scope &amp; Purpose<\/th><th>Trigger \/ Requirement<\/th><th>Practical Effect<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Section 173(1) BNSS (formerly Sec 154 CrPC)<\/td><td>Ordinary statutory procedure for receiving and recording cognisable information at the police station.<\/td><td>Oral, written, or electronic report disclosing a cognisable offence.<\/td><td>Executed by the Officer-in-Charge (SHO) or duty officer under their direction.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Section 30 BNSS (formerly Sec 36 CrPC)<\/td><td>Vests superior police officers with the same powers as an officer-in-charge throughout their jurisdiction.<\/td><td>Exercise of supervisory, administrative, or operational discretion.<\/td><td>Enables Circle Inspectors\/Zonal DySPs or SDPOs\/SPs\/DCPs\/DIGs, etc., to directly record, register, or investigate an FIR.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Section 173(4) BNSS (formerly Sec 154(3) CrPC)<\/td><td>Specific statutory remedy provided to an aggrieved citizen upon refusal by an SHO.<\/td><td>Refusal by the officer-in-charge to register a cognisable complaint.<\/td><td>The informant sends a written complaint to the SP, who may investigate or delegate it. Written information to the SP can now be transmitted physically or via electronic communication, aligning with the modernised provisions of Section 173(1).<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-conceptual-distinction-concurrent-power-vs-specific-remedy\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conceptual_Distinction_Concurrent_Power_vs_Specific_Remedy\"><\/span>Conceptual Distinction: Concurrent Power vs. Specific Remedy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Superior police authority is often mistakenly viewed merely as an &#8220;appeal&#8221; against an SHO&#8217;s refusal. In reality, the BNSS provides two distinct statutory mechanisms alongside an acting-capacity mandate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Concurrent Power (Section 30 BNSS):<\/strong> Superior officers (SDPO, SP, DCP, ACP, DIG) hold the full statutory powers of an SHO throughout their jurisdiction and can directly record, register, and investigate an FIR at any time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Remedial Pathway (Section 173(4) BNSS):<\/strong> Triggered when an SHO refuses to record information. The complainant may submit the information to the SP, who must then investigate or direct an investigation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Acting Authority (Section 2(1)(o) BNSS):<\/strong> If the SHO is absent or incapacitated, the next senior officer present above constable rank automatically exercises all statutory powers of the Officer-in-Charge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Short: Section 30 confers proactive supervisory authority, while Section 173(4) provides a targeted remedy for citizen grievances. Together with Section 2(1)(o), they ensure FIR registration is never blocked by station-level bottlenecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-operational-escalation-hierarchy\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Operational_Escalation_Hierarchy\"><\/span>Operational Escalation Hierarchy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the Station House Officer (SHO) fails or refuses to record a cognisable offence, the BNSS provides a step\u2011by\u2011step pathway to enforce compliance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The informant provides information \u2192 SHO must register FIR under Section 173(1) BNSS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If SHO refuses \u2192 The complainant can approach a superior officer (SP\/DCP\/ACP\/DIG) under Section 30 or Section 173(4) BNSS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the superior officer also fails \u2192 The complainant may move the judicial magistrate under Section 175(3) BNSS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Judicial direction \u2192 The magistrate can mandate FIR registration and investigation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In essence: The BNSS ensures that refusal at one level does not block justice. The law provides a clear escalation ladder \u2014 SHO \u2192 Superior Officer \u2192 Magistrate \u2014 guaranteeing that cognisable offences are eventually registered and investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under Section 175(3) BNSS, approaching a judicial magistrate requires prior statutory exhaustion. The applicant must file an affidavit confirming they first submitted the complaint to the SHO under Section 173(1) and then to the SP under Section 173(4). Without fulfilling both preliminary steps, the magistrate cannot entertain the application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-key-legal-takeaways\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Legal_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Legal Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The SHO is Not the Sole Registration Authority:<\/strong> While the Officer-in-Charge is the standard statutory recipient under Section 173 BNSS, Section 30 ensures that police power is not bottlenecked at the station level. A superior officer (e.g., SP, DCP, ACP, SDPO, etc.) acting within their territorial jurisdiction possesses the full legal authority to record, register, and investigate an FIR directly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Refusal Triggers Mandatory Escalation:<\/strong> Section 173(4) provides a structured alternative pathway. If an SHO refuses to register a cognisable offence, submitting the written information to the Superintendent of Police obligates the SP\u2014upon satisfaction that a cognisable offence is disclosed\u2014to either investigate personally or assign a subordinate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Procedural Safeguards Apply Universally:<\/strong> Whether an FIR is recorded by an SHO under Section 173(1) or by a superior officer invoking Section 30, all statutory mandates\u2014such as reading back the statement, obtaining authentication, providing a free copy to the informant, and complying with the 14-day preliminary inquiry window under Section 173(3) where applicable\u2014remain strictly binding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>State of Bihar v. J.A.C. Saldanha (1980):<\/strong> The Supreme Court held that the power to register and investigate an FIR is not restricted solely to the local Officer-in-Charge. Under statutory provisions (now Section 30 of the BNSS, formerly Section 36 of the CrPC), superior police officers possess full authority to exercise the same powers throughout their local area, including registering an FIR and directing investigations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-conclusion\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The BNSS framework makes it clear that the responsibility for FIR registration does not rest solely with the Station House Officer\/Officer-in-Charge. While the SHO remains the primary authority under Section\u202f173, superior officers under Section\u202f30 possess concurrent powers to record and register FIRs directly, ensuring that access to justice is not bottlenecked at the police station level. In cases of refusal, Section 173(4) provides a structured remedy through escalation to the Superintendent of Police\/Deputy Commissioner or Commissioner of Police, and ultimately Section 175(3) empowers the Magistrate to mandate registration. Together, these provisions establish a layered safeguard system where concurrent powers and specific remedies guarantee that cognisable offences are promptly acted upon, reinforcing transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-related-links yoast-seo-related-links\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/officer-in-charge-oc-of-a-police-station\/\">Officer-in-Charge (OC) of a Police Station<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/efficient-reporting-and-deployment-of-police-personnel-during-vvip-visits-in-india\/\">Efficient Reporting and Deployment of Police Personnel During VVIP Visits in India<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-subsequent-supreme-court-decision-not-a-ground-for-review\/\">A Subsequent Supreme Court Decision \u2014 Not a Ground for Review<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/effect-of-contradictory-stand-before-high-court-and-registrar-of-trademark\/\">Effect of contradictory stand before High Court and Registrar of Trademarks<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/judicial-recusal-in-india-grounds-procedure-appellate-remedies\/\">Judicial Recusal in India \u2013 Grounds, Procedure, Appellate Remedies\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction The expression &#8220;lodging an FIR&#8221; is frequently used as a blanket term that obscures the operational boundaries between giving information, recording it, registering the report, and exercising investigative control. Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), these steps are governed by distinct statutory authorities designed to ensure both functional efficiency and hierarchy-wide accountability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[4798],"class_list":["post-30842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-criminal-law","tag-criminal-law"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Who Can Draw and Register an FIR? 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