ZERO FIR : NATIONAL ISSUE
NEWS : Union Ministry Directs Translation of
‘Zero FIRs’ to Ensure Legal Accuracy Across States
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS ?
Three
criminal laws: To preserve legal value, MHA orders translations of ‘Zero FIRs’
across states
Background and Legal Context:
- Zero FIR: Can be filed at any police
station, irrespective of jurisdiction, and later transferred to the
appropriate police station for re-registration as a regular FIR.
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Under this new law, registering a ‘zero FIR’ is
mandatory.
- New Criminal Laws:
- BNSS replaces the CrPC.
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
replaces the IPC.
- Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)
replaces the Evidence Act.
- These laws were introduced on July
1, 2024.
Directive Details:
- Translation Requirement: The Ministry of
Home Affairs (MHA) mandates that ‘zero FIRs’ filed in
local languages must be accompanied by an English translation
when forwarded to states where a different language is spoken.
- Objective: To maintain accuracy and
consistency in legal proceedings across state borders.
Implementation and Review:
- UT Compliance: Union Territories
have started sending ‘zero FIRs’ along with English
translations.
- Challenges:
- Chief Secretaries and DGPs raised
concerns about local language FIRs potentially affecting
the accuracy of investigations in other states.
- Forensic support and administrative
adjustments are being made, such as in Lakshadweep,
where they coordinated with neighboring states for forensic services.
- Chandigarh has designated specific courts
for cases under the new laws.
Source : https://indianexpress.com/article/india/zero-firs-filed-in-local-languages-must-have-translated-copy-mha-to-uts-9548958/