The concept of Zero FIR means that a FIR can be filed in any police station (irrespective of place of incident and jurisdiction of the Police Station concerned ) and the same can be later transferred to the appropriate police station.
It empowers Police to proceed with a case where FIR has been filed within the territorial jurisdiction of a particular police station where the incident occurred.
The provisions of CrPC ( Criminal procedure Code ), says if FIR is not filed within the territorial jurisdiction of a concerned Police Station, the SHO of that particular Police Station cannot proceed with further investigation of the case and the FIR should be filed with a Police Station having territorial jurisdiction to act over the case. But this poses certain practical limitations in cases of grave crimes where there is a possibility of tampering with evidence and the nature of the crime is heinous.
For example: If a person visits Police Station informing police that his friend was murdered (cognizable offence). Incidences like this require immediate action on part of police. In such cases Police cannot excuse itself saying that the case does not fall within their jurisdiction.
In case of Satvinder Kaur Vs State ( Government of Delhi ) – The Supreme Court held that, Police can investigate the case, which does not fall under their jurisdiction.
To adhere to Statutory regulations under CPC, if the investigating officer after preliminary investigation comes to the conclusion that the cause of the action for lodging FIR has not arisen within his territorial jurisdiction, then he is required to submit a report and forward the case to the Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence with all evidences. Later on it is transferred to the appropriate Police Station.
