The 22nd Law Commission of India submitted a report which suggested amending Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (CrPC) to allow online registration of FIRs (First Information Reports).
The Law Commission of India was requested by the Ministry of Home Affairs of India in June 2018 to study the feasibility of amending section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (CrPC) to enable online FIR registration. The Commission examined the reference and 27 Submitted its report number 282 to the Ministry of Law and Justice, Department of Legal Affairs in September 2023.
Law Commission recommendations
- According to the Law Commission, registration of e-FIR should be implemented in a phased manner.
- E-FIR can be initiated for offenses punishable with imprisonment up to three years.
- E-complaint can be allowed for all non-cognizable offences.
- The Law Commission has also suggested the government to create a national portal to facilitate registration of e-FIRs.
- The report also suggested e-verification and mandatory declaration by the person filing e-FIR, so that it is not misused.
- Minimum punishment of imprisonment and fine should be given for wrong registration of e-complaints or e-FIR, for which IPC sections can be amended.
- To avoid wrong registration of e-complaints or e-FIR, verification of the complainant can be done using e-authentication technologies.
Law commission
- The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body.
- Law Commission has been constituted with a fixed time limit to conduct research in the field of law.
- The Commission makes recommendations to the government as per the terms of reference.
- The major function of the Commission is to make legal recommendations for maximum dissemination of justice in the society under the rule of law and promotion of good governance in India.
- Under the Charter Act of 1833, the first Law Commission was constituted in the year 1834 under the chairmanship of Lord Macaulay.