Question

Under which provision in the BNSS, Zero FIR may be filed?

• A. Section 173
• B. Section 356
• C. Section 107
• D. Section 398

Hint:

The new BNSS has codified many practices that were earlier established by court judgments. The concept of Zero FIR is one such important procedural safeguard that is now part of the main statute under Section 173.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understand the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The BNSS, 2023, is the new law that replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973. It outlines the procedures for criminal investigation and trial.

Step 2: Define "Zero FIR". A Zero FIR is a First Information Report (FIR) that can be filed at any police station, regardless of whether the crime was committed in that station's jurisdiction. The station registers the FIR under the serial number '0' and then transfers it to the appropriate police station for investigation. This mechanism was introduced to ensure that victims, especially in sensitive cases, can report a crime without delay.

Step 3: Identify the relevant section in the BNSS. The provisions for recording an FIR are contained in Section 173 of the BNSS. This section, which corresponds to the old Section 154 of the CrPC, has now been updated to formally include the provision for recording a Zero FIR, making it a legal mandate.