MHA mulls treating all complaints received by police as FIRs

A fallout of allegations of sexual misconduct against former Haryana DGP S.P.S. Rathore. Union Minister P.Chidambaram's suggestion that all complaints be registered as FIRs could be enforced. The Home Ministry is also considering withdrawal of police medals from those officers convicted in an offence by the courts.

Taking a serious view of instances where complainants are turned away by the police who resist registration of a First Information Report (FIR), the Union Home Ministry is likely to write to all States and Union Territories to register all complaints to the police as FIRs.

Senior officials said the Ministry would be writing soon to all States and Union Territories to comply with the norms of registration of all complaints as FIRs. Officials pointed out said that relevant provisions were there in the CrPc but the need was to adhere to them strictly. They said that non-registration of FIR was the single biggest grouse of the public against the police.

The suggestion of registration of all complaints as FIRs was given on December 23 by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram who also said that frivolous, incorrect and false FIRs can be rejected by the police after investigation.

In another development, Home Ministry is also considering withdrawal of police medals from those police officers who have been convicted in an offence by the courts. Well placed sources said that a meeting of the medals committee of the Home Ministry would be held next week and added that such a decision could be taken.