Registration of offences and information about progress in investigation Transparency in the investigation process must be maintained. The Commission has stressed that complainants must have access to information about their cases and has given the following guidelines • • • • • • • • A First Information Report [FIR] should be registered promptly on receiving a complaint about a cognizable offence. A copy of the FIR should be given to the complainant and an entry about this should be made in the First Case Diary. If the complaint does not make out a cognizable offence, the police should explain to the complainant, the reasons why the complaint cannot be registered. If investigation is not completed within three months of the FIR being registered, the complainant should be informed in writing giving specific reasons for the delay. Section 154 (2) CrPC lays down that a copy of the FIR shall be given free of cost to the complainant Proof of having informed the complainant [postal acknowledgement or written acknowledgement] about reasons for the delay in investigation should be kept on the Case Diary file. If investigation is not completed within six months of registering the FIR, the complainant should be informed again in writing about the reasons for non completion of investigation, and the acknowledgement should be kept on the Case Diary file. If the investigation is not completed within one year, a more detailed intimation [memo] should be prepared by the investigating officer giving reasons for the delay to the complainant. The intimation should be endorsed by a gazetted officer who directly supervises the work of the investigating officer. The gazetted officer should personally verify the reasons for delay given by the investigating officer. A record of the intimation and its acknowledgement by the complainant should be kept on the Case Diary file. The complainant should be informed once the investigation is completed and a charge-sheet is filed before the court. A copy of the charge-sheet should be given to the complainant by the police. In case the complainant is not available for some reason, her/his family should be informed. Manual on Human Rights for Police Officers 87