100 per cent FIR: Jalpaiguri shows the way
*Saumitra Mohan

We have long debated the problems ailing criminal justice system in our country with various committees and commissions recommending sundry measures to tone up the system. But of all the measures discussed, it is the police reforms which constitute the core of any such effort without which nothing substantial can be achieved. Notwithstanding the recent police reforms executed at the instance of the Supreme Court of India, there is still a lot which need to be done to enable the police organisation to carry out its duties and responsibilities with much more effectiveness and efficiency.
And the starting point for any police reform remains the way our police station functions as they still remain the cutting edge of the law and order machinery in our country. If our police stations continue to function the way they have always been, all other reforms would come to nought. It is against this background that an experiment made in a remote North Bengal district of Jalpaiguri in Eastern India becomes important.
The law enforcers across the country seem to be unanimous that given the manpower, resources and infrastructure crunch afflicting the police organisation, it is neither advisable nor practicable to entertain all the public complaints at the police station. They feel that all such complaints need to be carefully sifted and sorted before being accepted in the form of an FIR (First Information Report). But the Jalpaiguri experiment, initiated and carried under the able stewardship of the present Superintendent of Police Sri Tripurari, a young IPS officer of 1998 batch, has proved them all wrong.
It was with effect from 01 July 2007 that this experiment kicked off in Jalpaiguri and accordingly instructions were issued to all the police stations to accept any and every FIR without any demur. Instructions were also issued, however, to ensure that no simultaneous arrests be made till inquiry and investigation are completed. Contrary to the fear of burden that such an approach might impose on the system, the entire system has responded very well with surprisingly positive results. Police is no longer shunned or avoided out here nor are the officers and rank complaining of increased work-load. Popular alienation or fear of police has come down, leading to increased public confidence in them.
Selective lodging of FIRs never reflected the true crime picture of the district which has become possible now. Against an average of 3000 cases reported between 2004-06, about 5300 cases were reported in the first year of reforms i.e. in 2007. The projected crime figure for 2008 is likely to be around 14000, quite staggering compared to the figures of the pre-reform period. Usually, a proportionately inverse relationship has been noticed between the cases lodged in the police stations and the court complaints. With police becoming liberal in accepting FIRs, the necessity of people lodging court complaint has come down resulting in reduction of the same. Compared to approx six per cent court complaints of total recorded cases during 2004-06, the figure was down to approx. 0.6 percent in 2007.
While the total crime figures for all the 17 police stations of 33 lakh-strong Jalpaiguri between 2002-06 was an average of about 2700, this figure was a staggering 6800 in 2007. But the projected figure for 2008 is likely to be 14000. While only about 600 cases of theft, on an annual average, were reported during 2004-06, the number was up at 1300 in 2007 and is likely to be upwards of 2000 by the end of 2008. Again, while an average of 550 crimes against women were reported during this period, the figure was more than double for 2007 and is projected to be around 2000 in 2008. The average figure for robbery, burglary and dacoity together were around 40 during the three years preceding the reforms, but it shot up to 60 in 2007 and is likely to be more than 80 at the end of 2008.
The arrest figures have also been greatly impacted. Earlier police were often indiscriminate in its preventive activities and arrests as it had mandatory quota to fulfil. So, the police would indiscriminately haul up people through non-FIR cases, inter alia, under such sections as 107, 109 and 110 Cr.PC and 290 IPC, but the need to cook up the book has come down substantially with police willing to register all crimes being reported in the district. While the persons arrested under section 290 IPC numbered more than 10,000 during 2004-06, the figure was down to around 6000 in 2007 and is likely to be around 2000 only in 2008.
Similarly, the people arrested under section 107 Cr.PC were around 7500 during the pre-reform period, the figure was down to around 6000 in 2007 and is likely to be less than 3000 in 2008. The overall arrest figure for the district which was more than 5000 during 2004-06, was down to 4,500 in 2007 and is likely to be less than 5000. Again, while accused surrender was an average of around 1300 between 2004-06, it was around 3,500 in 2007 and is projected to be around 4,500 in 2008. While the number of persons convicted during 2004-06 was around 125, it was almost unaffected in 2007 at 121, but is likely to improve substantively at over 200 in 2008 pointing to the improved quality of case disposal. This clearly indicates a positive relationship between a responsive police and the local crime figures.
Notwithstanding the registration of huge number of cases and the consequent increase in work for the local police, the case disposal has improved drastically. The case disposal was around 3000 during 2004-06, it was more than 4000 in 2007 and is likely to be more than 6000 in 2008. It amply shows that given a proper orientation, the same manpower can yield better results. Expedited case disposal and 100 per cent FIR registration have also resulted in fewer complaints made to human rights bodies like NHRC, a big relief for the local police. They were a measly 11 in 2007 and are likely to be the same in 2008 against a substantively higher figure for the pre-reforms period i.e. 25 between 2004-06.
With free registration of cases, the process of converting cognizable cases into non-cognizable cases has almost stopped as all such cases are now registered in the first instance itself. Similarly, such a development has also pre-empted the need for the interference with the police work by the local panchayats, political leaders and touts. Having adopted a pro-active and responsive approach to policing, the police itself no longer needs to misbehave or intimidate people for suppression or minimization of cases. It has also reduced the need for bribing police for lodging an FIR though the same cannot be said about an impartial and speedy investigation which is where the demand for more manpower, infrastructure and resources become justified. This experiment has also struck at the root of the nexus among the police, criminals, lawyers and politicos. One does feel the need to replicate similar experiments elsewhere in the country.