Law Panel Recommends Rolling Out of E-FIRs in a Phased Manner

The Law Commission of India has recommended that the registration of e-FIRs (electronic first information reports) should be rolled out in a phased manner, beginning with offences attracting a jail term of up to three years.

In a report submitted to the government, the panel said that a phased roll-out would ensure that there is no disruption to the procedure adopted for reporting and investigation of serious offences.

It also suggested a number of safeguards to prevent the misuse of e-FIRs, such as e-verification and mandatory declaration by the person lodging the complaint.

The Law Commission’s recommendation is significant, as e-FIRs have the potential to make it easier for people to report crimes and to improve the efficiency of the police.

However, it is important to ensure that e-FIRs are implemented in a way that does not compromise the quality of investigation or the rights of the accused.

The report said that e-FIRs would tackle the long-persisting issue of delay in the registration of FIRs and allow citizens to report crimes in real time. It also noted that e-FIRs would be more efficient and transparent than the traditional paper-based system.

The Law Commission’s recommendation is likely to be welcomed by many people, including law enforcement agencies, civil society groups, and the general public.

E-FIRs have the potential to make the criminal justice system more accessible and efficient. However, it is important to ensure that e-FIRs are implemented in a careful and phased manner, taking into account all relevant factors.

The government should carefully consider the Law Commission’s recommendations and take steps to implement e-FIRs in a way that benefits all stakeholders.