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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(fir not registered, sho refused fir, lalita kumari, section 154 crpc, magistrate complaint 156(3), police complaint not registered)
+metatag-description=(SHO refused to register your FIR? Use Lalita Kumari (SC 2014) Constitution Bench: registration is mandatory for cognisable offence. Three-step escalation + RTI templates.)
+metatag-title=(FIR Not Registered — Lalita Kumari Rule + RTI 2026 Guide)}}
+====== When SHO Refuses to Register Your FIR — Lalita Kumari Rule + RTI ======
+{{ :og/card-06.png?direct&1200 |FIR Not Registered RTI - RTI Wiki}}
+**The Constitution Bench in //Lalita Kumari v. Government of UP// (2014) 2 SCC 1 settled the law: when information disclosing a COGNISABLE offence reaches an SHO, registration of FIR under §154(1) CrPC is mandatory. Preliminary inquiry permitted ONLY in 7 narrow categories — and even there, must conclude in 7 days. If SHO refuses, you have a 3-step legal remedy: (1) §154(3) complaint to SP in writing, (2) §156(3) Magistrate complaint, (3) parallel RTI to SP for the SHO's reasoning.** This guide gives you the exact templates + escalation ladder + IPC §166A which makes the SHO personally liable up to 2 years' rigorous imprisonment.
+<WRAP center round info 95%>
+**TL;DR:**
+  * **Cognisable offence:** SHO MUST register FIR under §154(1) CrPC. Lalita Kumari (SC 2014) Constitution Bench.
+  * **If refused:** §154(3) to SP → §156(3) to Magistrate → IPC §166A criminal liability of SHO.
+  * **Parallel RTI** to SP for the SHO's recorded reasoning.
+\\ \\ **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html?prefill=I want to file an RTI because SHO refused to register my FIR. Date of complaint to SHO: [DATE]. PS: [STATION]. Nature of cognisable offence: [BRIEF]. Please draft a polished RTI to SP.|🪄 Draft RTI for FIR refusal →]]**
+</WRAP>
+**Reviewed on:** 23 April 2026.
+===== Step 1 — §154(3) CrPC complaint to SP =====
+If SHO refuses, write to the **Superintendent of Police (SP)** of the district. Send by Registered Post + email + walk-in copy.
+<code>
+To: The Superintendent of Police, [District].
+Subject: Complaint under Section 154(3) CrPC — non-registration of FIR
+         on cognisable offence at PS [NAME]
+Sir/Madam,
+I had reported a cognisable offence — [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF OFFENCE
+AND IPC SECTIONS] — at Police Station [NAME] on [DATE] vide my written
+complaint dated [DATE], copy enclosed. The SHO has refused to register
+an FIR.
+Under Lalita Kumari v. Government of UP (2014) 2 SCC 1 — Constitution
+Bench — registration of FIR upon information disclosing a cognisable
+offence is mandatory under §154(1) CrPC.
+I therefore request you to direct the SHO to register the FIR forthwith
+and proceed with investigation.
+Should this remedy fail, I reserve the right to (a) approach the
+Magistrate under §156(3) CrPC, (b) initiate criminal proceedings under
+§166A IPC against the SHO for refusing to record information of a
+cognisable offence (punishable with rigorous imprisonment up to
+years + fine).
+A parallel RTI is being filed for the SHO's recorded reason, if any.
+Yours faithfully,
+[Name]
+[Address, mobile]
+Date: [Today]
+Enclosure: Copy of original complaint dated [DATE]
+</code>
+===== Step 2 — §156(3) Magistrate complaint =====
+If SP also fails, file **complaint petition under §156(3) CrPC** to the **jurisdictional Magistrate** seeking direction for FIR registration.
+<code>
+IN THE COURT OF THE LEARNED JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE [CLASS],
+[DISTRICT]
+Crl. M.P. No. ____ of 2026
+[Your name] ……… COMPLAINANT
+                                    Vs.
+[Name of accused — if known, else "Unknown person/s"] ……… ACCUSED
+PETITION UNDER SECTION 156(3) CrPC SEEKING DIRECTION FOR REGISTRATION
+OF FIR AND INVESTIGATION
+The Complainant respectfully submits:
+. The Complainant is [brief identification].
+. On [DATE], the Complainant reported the following cognisable
+   offence to the SHO of PS [NAME] in writing — copy enclosed:
+   [DETAILED FACTS OF OFFENCE].
+. The above facts disclose a cognisable offence punishable under
+   Sections [IPC sections].
+. Despite the mandatory registration requirement laid down by the
+   Constitution Bench in Lalita Kumari v. Government of UP (2014)
+SCC 1, the SHO has refused to register an FIR.
+. Subsequent representation under §154(3) CrPC to the SP dated
+   [DATE] (enclosed) has also borne no result.
+. The Complainant has no other adequate remedy except by way of
+   the present petition under §156(3) CrPC.
+PRAYER
+The Complainant respectfully prays that this Honourable Court be
+pleased to:
+a) Direct the SHO of PS [NAME] to forthwith register an FIR on the
+   complaint dated [DATE] and proceed with investigation in accordance
+   with law.
+b) Take such other action as may be deemed just and necessary in
+   the facts and circumstances of the case.
+VERIFICATION
+I, [Name], the Complainant above-named, do hereby verify that the
+contents of the present petition are true to my personal knowledge.
+Signed at [Place] this [date].
+[Signature]
+COMPLAINANT
+[Through Advocate, if applicable]
+</code>
+===== Step 3 — Parallel RTI to SP =====
+<code>
+To:
+PIO, Office of SP, [District].
+Subject: RTI — non-registration of FIR on complaint dated [DATE]
+Under the RTI Act, 2005:
+. Daily Diary entry made at PS [NAME] on [DATE] in respect of my
+   complaint.
+. The reason recorded by the SHO for not registering FIR
+   (preliminary inquiry under Lalita Kumari para 120.6 / decision
+   that no cognisable offence is disclosed).
+. Copy of any preliminary inquiry conducted, with findings.
+. Action taken on my §154(3) complaint to SP/DCP dated [DATE], with
+   reasons recorded.
+. Name, designation of SHO and supervising Inspector at the time.
+. Number of similar non-registrations at this PS in the last 12
+   months and the SP's monitoring action.
+Rs. 10 IPO enclosed.
+</code>
+===== IPC §166A — criminal liability of SHO =====
+Added by Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, **§166A IPC** makes a public servant who fails to record information of a cognisable offence (or fails to investigate) **punishable with rigorous imprisonment 6 months - 2 years + fine**. This is a strong stick — cite it in the §154(3) representation.
+===== The 7 categories where preliminary inquiry IS allowed (Lalita Kumari para 120.6) =====
+  - Matrimonial / family disputes
+  - Commercial offences
+  - Medical negligence
+  - Corruption cases
+  - Cases with abnormal delay (3+ months) in reporting
+  - Where the information is suspect on its face
+  - Where verification of jurisdiction / ingredients is needed
+In ALL OTHER cases, FIR registration is mandatory.
+===== Case law to cite =====
+  * **Lalita Kumari v. Government of UP (2014) 2 SCC 1** — Constitution Bench; FIR registration mandatory.
+  * **Sakiri Vasu v. State of UP (2008) 2 SCC 409** — Magistrate has power under §156(3) to direct FIR registration + investigation.
+  * **Vinubhai Haribhai Malaviya v. State of Gujarat (2019) 17 SCC 1** — Magistrate's continuing supervision of investigation.
+  * **State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal (1992) Supp(1) SCC 335** — categories where FIR can be quashed.
+===== Related =====
+  * [[:fir-copy-rti|How to Get an FIR Copy — §154(2) and RTI]]
+  * [[:tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]]
+  * [[:rti-first-appeal-second-appeal-guide|RTI Appeal Guide]]
+//Last reviewed: 23 April 2026.// {{tag>rti fir police section-154-crpc lalita-kumari constitution-bench section-166a-ipc 2026}}

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