Section 154 CrPC: Information in cognizable cases

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 154 CrPC at a Glance

Section 154 CrPC deals with information in cognizable cases. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 173 BNSS. Popularly called the FIR section. Section 173(1) BNSS takes information irrespective of the area where the offence is committed (a Zero FIR), and by electronic communication signed within three days.

Now BNSS

Section 173 →

What Section 154 CrPC Says

154. Information in cognizable cases
(1) Every information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence, if given orally to an officer in charge of a police station, shall be reduced to writing by him or under his direction, and be read over to the informant; and every such information, whether given in writing or reduced to writing as aforesaid, shall be signed by the person giving it, and the substance thereof shall be entered in a book to be kept by such officer in such form as the State Government may prescribe in this behalf:
Provided that if the information is given by the woman against whom an offence under section 326A, section 326B, section 354, section 354A, section 354B, section 354C, section 354D, section 376, section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB, section 376E or section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) is alleged to have been committed or attempted, then such information shall be recorded, by a woman police officer or any woman officer:
Provided further that—
(a) in the event that the person against whom an offence under section 354, section 354A, section 354B, section 354C, section 354D, section 376, section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB, section 376E or section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) is alleged to have been committed or attempted, is temporarily or permanently mentally or physically disabled, then such information shall be recorded by a police officer, at the residence of the person seeking to report such offence or at a convenient place of such person’s choice, in the presence of an interpreter or a special educator, as the case may be;
(b) the recording of such information shall be video graphed;
(c) the police officer shall get the statement of the person recorded by a Judicial Magistrate under clause (a) of sub-section (5A) of section 164 as soon as possible.
(2) A copy of the information as recorded under sub-section (1) shall be given forthwith, free of cost, to the informant.
(3) Any person aggrieved by a refusal on the part of an officer in charge of a police station to record the information referred to in sub-section (1) may send the substance of such information, in writing and by post, to the Superintendent of Police concerned who, if satisfied that such information discloses the commission of a cognizable offence, shall either investigate the case himself or direct an investigation to be made by any police officer subordinate to him, in the manner provided by this Code, and such officer shall have all the powers of an officer in charge of the police station in relation to that offence.

Source: Section 154, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 154 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence that is given to an officer in charge of a police station. If the information is given orally, the officer shall reduce it to writing, or have it reduced to writing under the officer's direction, and read it over to the informant. Every such information, whether given in writing or reduced to writing, shall be signed by the person giving it. The substance of the information shall be entered in a book kept by the officer in the form the State Government may prescribe. The first proviso applies when the information is given by a woman against whom an offence is alleged to have been committed or attempted. The offences are those under sections 326A, 326B, 354, 354A, 354B, 354C, 354D, 376, 376A, 376AB, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376DA, 376DB, 376E or 509 of the Indian Penal Code.

In that case the information shall be recorded by a woman police officer or any woman officer. The further proviso applies when a person against whom an offence is alleged to have been committed or attempted is temporarily or permanently mentally or physically disabled. The offences are those under sections 354, 354A, 354B, 354C, 354D, 376, 376A, 376AB, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376DA, 376DB, 376E or 509 of the Indian Penal Code. Under the first clause of the further proviso, a police officer shall record the information at the residence of the person seeking to report the offence, or at a convenient place of that person's choice. The information shall be recorded in the presence of an interpreter or a special educator, as the case may be. Under the second clause, the recording of the information shall be video graphed.

Under the third clause, the police officer shall get the statement of the person recorded by a Judicial Magistrate under section 164(5A)(a) as soon as possible. Under section 154(2), a copy of the information as recorded under section 154(1) shall be given to the informant forthwith and free of cost. Under section 154(3), if the officer in charge of a police station refuses to record the information, the aggrieved person may send its substance to the Superintendent of Police concerned. This is done in writing and by post. If the Superintendent of Police is satisfied that the information discloses the commission of a cognizable offence, the Superintendent shall either investigate the case personally or direct a subordinate police officer to investigate it. The investigation is made in the manner provided by the Code, and the officer investigating has all the powers of an officer in charge of the police station in relation to that offence.

When Section 154 CrPC Applies

When someone gives oral information about the commission of a cognizable offence to the officer in charge of a police station, that officer shall have it written down, read back to the informant, signed by the person giving it, and summarised in the station book kept in the form the State Government may prescribe.
Under the proviso to Section 154(1) CrPC, a woman police officer or any woman officer shall record the information if it is given by the woman against whom a listed offence under Section 326A, 326B, 354, 354A, 354B, 354C, 354D, 376, 376A, 376AB, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376DA, 376DB, 376E or 509 of the Indian Penal Code is alleged to have been committed or attempted.
Under the further proviso to Section 154(1) CrPC, if the person against whom a listed offence under Section 354, 354A, 354B, 354C, 354D, 376, 376A, 376AB, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376DA, 376DB, 376E or 509 of the Indian Penal Code is alleged to have been committed or attempted is temporarily or permanently mentally or physically disabled, a police officer shall video graph the recording of the information at the residence of the person reporting or a convenient place chosen by that person in the presence of an interpreter or special educator.
Once the information is recorded under Section 154(1) CrPC, a copy of that recorded information shall be given to the informant free of cost and forthwith.
If the officer in charge of a police station refuses to record the information under Section 154(1) CrPC, the aggrieved person may send its substance in writing and by post to the Superintendent of Police, who if satisfied that it discloses the commission of a cognizable offence shall investigate the case himself or direct a subordinate police officer to investigate it.

Time Limits Under Section 154 CrPC

In cases covered by the disability proviso in Section 154(1) CrPC, the police officer shall get the statement of the person recorded by a Judicial Magistrate under Section 164(5A)(a) CrPC as soon as possible.Act text: “get the statement of the person recorded by a Judicial Magistrate under clause (a) of sub-section (5A) of section 164 as soon as possible.”
Under Section 154(2) CrPC, a copy of the information recorded under Section 154(1) CrPC shall be given to the informant forthwith and free of cost.Act text: “shall be given forthwith, free of cost, to the informant.”

Example of Section 154 CrPC

Ramesh goes to a police station and orally gives information to the officer in charge relating to the commission of a cognizable offence. Under Section 154(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the officer shall reduce the oral information to writing, read it over to Ramesh, obtain his signature, and enter its substance in the prescribed book. Under Section 154(2) CrPC, Ramesh shall be given a copy of the recorded information forthwith and free of cost. If the station officer refuses to record it, Ramesh may under Section 154(3) CrPC send its substance in writing by post to the Superintendent of Police for investigation.

When Section 154 CrPC Does Not Apply

Recording under Section 154(1) CrPC does not apply when the information does not relate to the commission of a cognizable offence.
The proviso to Section 154(1) CrPC requiring recording by a woman police officer or any woman officer does not apply unless the information is given by the woman against whom a listed offence under the Indian Penal Code is alleged to have been committed or attempted.
The duty of the Superintendent of Police under Section 154(3) CrPC to investigate or direct an investigation does not apply if the officer in charge has not refused to record the information or if the Superintendent of Police is not satisfied that the information discloses the commission of a cognizable offence.

FIR Under BNSS 173: What Changed

Section 154 CrPC is now covered under Section 173 BNSS.

Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Renumbering, changing Code to Sanhita, spelling video graphed as videographed, and replacing Indian Penal Code references with Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita references are changes of form. The further proviso for disabled persons also lists Section 124 BNS, which its CrPC counterpart did not cover, and the statement is recorded by a Magistrate instead of a Judicial Magistrate. Substantively, Section 173 BNSS allows reporting irrespective of the area and by electronic communication signed within three days, gives the victim a free copy, adds new Section 173(3) BNSS on preliminary enquiry within fourteen days, and adds an application to the Magistrate.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 154 vs BNSS 173) →

FAQs on Section 154 CrPC

How is a first information report recorded and supplied to the informant under Section 154 CrPC?▼

When oral information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence is given to an officer in charge of a police station, Section 154(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 states that it shall be reduced to writing by him or under his direction, read over to the informant, signed by the person giving it, and entered in substance in the prescribed book. Under Section 154(2) CrPC, a copy of the recorded information shall be given to the informant forthwith and free of cost.

When shall a woman officer record information under Section 154(1) CrPC?▼

Under the proviso to Section 154(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, information shall be recorded by a woman police officer or any woman officer if it is given by the woman against whom an offence under Section 326A, 326B, 354, 354A, 354B, 354C, 354D, 376, 376A, 376AB, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376DA, 376DB, 376E or 509 of the Indian Penal Code is alleged to have been committed or attempted.

What procedure applies under Section 154(1) CrPC when the victim of a listed offence is disabled?▼

Under the further proviso to Section 154(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, if the person against whom a listed Indian Penal Code offence is alleged is temporarily or permanently mentally or physically disabled, a police officer shall record the information at the residence or a convenient chosen place in the presence of an interpreter or special educator. The recording shall be video graphed, and the officer shall get a Judicial Magistrate to record the statement under Section 164(5A)(a) CrPC as soon as possible.

What can an informant do under Section 154(3) CrPC if the police station officer refuses to record the information?▼

Any person aggrieved by the refusal of an officer in charge of a police station to record information under Section 154(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 may send its substance in writing and by post to the Superintendent of Police concerned. Under Section 154(3) CrPC, if satisfied that the information discloses the commission of a cognizable offence, the Superintendent of Police shall either investigate the case himself or direct an investigation by a subordinate police officer.

Which provision of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 154 CrPC?▼

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. Under the official mapping, Section 154 CrPC became Section 173 BNSS, which deals with information in cognizable cases. Specifically, Section 154(1) CrPC corresponds to Section 173(1) BNSS, Section 154(2) CrPC on giving a free copy forthwith became Section 173(2) BNSS, and Section 154(3) CrPC on sending the substance of refused information to the Superintendent of Police became Section 173(4) BNSS.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 27 Oct 2026 ·