Report No. 154

Delay In Disposal of Cases Because of Non-Registration of First Information Report Under Section 154

30. What are the causes for delay in investigation by the investigating officers? Have you any suggestions for minimising such delays? (See Appendix III)

31. Do you agree that delay in disposal of criminal cases is caused due to non-recording of first information report by the police on account of various reasons such as that the crime did not occur within the jurisdiction of the police station or for other ulterior motives of the incharge of the police station? A complainant is thus constrained to approach the higher authorities or resort to filing of complaint before the court for getting prosecuted the criminal.

Delay in lodging of F.I.R. ensures in disappearance of material evidence relating to the crime. Do you agree with the suggestion that although there is a remedy already provided under sub-section (3) of section 154, if the officer-in-charge of a police station refuses to record the information reported relating to a cognisable offence but the aforesaid provision of, however, is not of a penal character, as observed by the Law Commission in its 84th Report, para 3.30 thereof?