In what Telangana Police said was a first in the country, the state’s police personnel have been authorised to register FIRs in the homes of complainants, instead of at police stations, in certain sensitive cases.
FIRs can be registered at complainants’ homes in cases of offences against women and children, offences affecting the human body, offences against property, offences under the POCSO Act, offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, offences under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, and offences under the Telangana Prohibition of Ragging Act, officials said.
The existing norm across the country is that crimes must be registered at the nearby police station.
Officials of the Crime Investigation Department said the new norm would help victims and informants who are often in a vulnerable, delicate, or traumatic condition.
“They may not be physically or mentally prepared to go to a police station to lodge a complaint, even though prompt registration of FIR may be crucial for their safety, dignity, and access to justice,” CID chief Charu Sinha said.
“Telangana Police is moving from a station-centric to a citizen-centric model of FIR registration in such cases, by taking the investigative machinery to the victim instead of insisting that the victim come to the police,” Sinha added.
Under the new norms, upon receiving telephonic or oral information about the commission of a cognizable offence in the specified categories, the jurisdictional police (or any police officer in case of Zero FIR) can, “immediately proceed to the residence of the victim, place of offence, hospital, or any other place of the victim’s choice, and receive the complaint/report from the victim or any other person having knowledge of the incident.”
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The complaint so received will be sent to the concerned police station with the endorsement of the receiving officer for registration of FIR. A copy of the FIR will be provided to the victim or informant at their residence or place of choice, rather than requiring them to visit the police station. Where necessary, police will also record statements under sections 180 and 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) at the same location.
“Simultaneously, police will take steps to secure and protect the crime scene and physical evidence, and proceed further with investigation in accordance with law,” Sinha said, adding, “This initiative of on-site FIR registration marks a significant step in making policing in Telangana more accessible, compassionate, and citizen-centric.”
SOPs for the new process have been drawn up and provided to all unit officers to be shared and implemented by all SHOs across the state, Sinha said.
Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice.
Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include:
Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India.
Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism.
Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities.
National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting.
Authoritativeness & Trust
A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society.
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