Zero FIR is a First Information Report that can be filed at any police station regardless of where the offence was committed, eliminating jurisdictional barriers to the registration of a criminal complaint. Under Indian law, this mechanism is now expressly codified in Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), replacing the judicially developed practice under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
Legal definition
Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 did not contain the words "irrespective of the area where the offence is committed." The practice of registering an FIR at any police station developed under police practice and directions that this entry has not verified from a statute or judgment. Under the CrPC regime, the practice was that any police station could register a FIR for a cognizable offence even if the offence did not occur within its territorial jurisdiction. In police practice such an FIR is commonly numbered "0" (hence the name) and sent on to the police station with jurisdiction. That procedure follows State police rules and has not been verified here.
The BNSS has now given statutory recognition to Zero FIR. Section 173(1) of the BNSS provides:
Every information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence, irrespective of the area where the offence is committed, may be given orally or by electronic communication to an officer in charge of a police station.
This represents a significant advancement over the CrPC, which merely stated that information should be given to "an officer in charge of a police station" without expressly addressing jurisdictional flexibility.
New law equivalent: The BNSS does not treat Zero FIR as a separate category. Instead, Section 173 itself incorporates the principle by using the phrase "irrespective of the area where the offence is committed," effectively making every police station a valid point of registration for every cognizable offence across India.
How courts have interpreted this term
Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh [12 November 2013, 2013 INSC 748]
The Constitution Bench held that registration of an FIR is mandatory whenever the information discloses a cognizable offence, with no preliminary inquiry. The judgment did not decide the territorial-jurisdiction question; the BNSS now addresses it directly through the words "irrespective of the area where the offence is committed" in Section 173(1).
Why this matters
The Zero FIR mechanism addresses one of the most common and harmful barriers to justice in India: the refusal by police stations to register FIRs on the ground that the offence did not occur within their territorial limits. Historically, victims — particularly women, migrant workers, and persons victimised while travelling — were sent from one police station to another, losing critical time and evidence in the process.
For victims of sexual offences, the importance of Zero FIR cannot be overstated. When a woman reports a sexual assault at the nearest police station, the police are obligated to register the FIR immediately, provide medical assistance, and and the case is then dealt with under State police procedure. Any delay in registration may allow the accused to flee, destroy evidence, or intimidate the victim.
A common misunderstanding is that a Zero FIR is somehow weaker or less valid than a regular FIR. In legal terms, there is no difference in evidentiary value. A Zero FIR carries the same legal weight as any other FIR. The practical difference is that the case is then usually sent to the police station with territorial jurisdiction, under State police procedure that the BNSS text does not set out.
Related terms
Parent concept:
Related procedures:
Broader concepts:
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an FIR and a Zero FIR?
A regular FIR is registered at the police station within whose territorial jurisdiction the offence occurred and receives a regular serial number. A Zero FIR is registered at any police station regardless of jurisdiction, receives a serial number "0," and is commonly numbered "0" in police practice before being sent to the police station with jurisdiction, a procedure set by State police rules and not by the BNSS text. Both are FIRs and carry the same legal weight.
Can a Zero FIR be filed for any offence?
A Zero FIR can be filed for any cognizable offence. Under Section 173 BNSS, any person may report a cognizable offence to any police station "irrespective of the area where the offence is committed." For non-cognizable offences, the police cannot register an FIR without the Magistrate's permission, regardless of jurisdiction.
Is Zero FIR now mandatory for police to accept?
Yes. Under Section 173 BNSS, police at any station are legally obligated to register an FIR when information discloses a cognizable offence, irrespective of jurisdiction. The Lalita Kumari judgment further reinforces that refusal to register is a dereliction of duty. A police officer who refuses may face disciplinary action and contempt proceedings.
What happens after a Zero FIR is registered?
In practice the Zero FIR and related papers are sent to the police station with territorial jurisdiction, which takes over the investigation. The BNSS text does not prescribe the transfer procedure, which follows State police rules, so ask the station for the receiving station's name and the date of transfer in writing.
This entry is part of the Veritect Indian Legal Glossary, a comprehensive reference of Indian legal terminology grounded in statutory text and judicial interpretation.
Last updated: 2026-03-27. Veritect provides this content for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.