# The police won't register your FIR? Something can be done. > Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure requires the officer in charge of a police station to write down information about a cognizable offence. If he refuses, there is a ladder of remedies, ending with the Sessions Judge as Justice of the Peace. In 2015 the Supreme Court ordered that section 154 be strictly followed. - Topic: Criminal law - Court: Supreme Court of Pakistan - Citation: 2015 SCMR 1724 - The myth: "If the police won't register your FIR, nothing can be done." Verdict: Wrong. - Watch: https://failegal.site/media/police-refuse-fir-section-154-justice-of-peace-2015-scmr-1724 (video https://failegal.site/media/police-refuse-fir-section-154-justice-of-peace-2015-scmr-1724/reel.mp4, 0:52) - Published by FAI Legal on 2026-10-10 Many people go to a police station to report a theft, an assault or a threat, and are sent away without an FIR. The common belief is that if the police say no, the matter ends there. This matters to anyone who has reported a crime and been refused, and to their families and lawyers who need to know the next step. ## Key points - Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure: every information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence given to the officer in charge of a police station shall be reduced to writing, signed by the informant and entered in the book. - If the SHO refuses, make a written application to him and then complain to the senior police, such as the DPO or RPO. The Supreme Court in PLD 2016 SC 581 said the Justice of the Peace should look for this record first. - Under section 22-A(6) an ex-officio Justice of the Peace may issue appropriate directions to the police on a complaint regarding non-registration of a criminal case. Under section 25, Sessions Judges are ex-officio Justices of the Peace. - The Supreme Court in 2015 SCMR 1724: police stations often refuse to register FIRs even when a cognizable offence is disclosed, and section 154 must be strictly adhered to, with action against any police official who fails to abide by it. ## The rule in one line If you report a cognizable offence, the SHO must write it down. If he refuses, put your request in writing, go to the senior police, and then apply to the Sessions Judge as Justice of the Peace, who can direct the police to register the case. ## Step by step First, a written application to the SHO of the police station, and keep a copy. If he refuses or delays, a written complaint to the senior police officers, such as the DPO or RPO. If there is still no FIR, an application under section 22-A(6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure to the ex-officio Justice of the Peace. Sessions Judges are Justices of the Peace for the whole province (section 25). In Younas Abbas v. Additional Sessions Judge, Chakwal, PLD 2016 SC 581, the Supreme Court said that before directing registration the Justice of the Peace must be satisfied that the aggrieved person applied to the SHO and, on his refusal or reluctance, complained to the higher police officers. ## What the Supreme Court saw in 2015 In Haider Ali v. DPO Chakwal, a bench of Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Qazi Faez Isa examined the failures of the criminal justice system, starting with the registration of FIRs. The Court said section 154 is mandatory, yet often the police station refuses to register the FIR even if the information relates to the commission of a cognizable offence (paragraph 7). It noted figures put before it: in 2011 alone, of 419,365 FIRs lodged in Punjab, 28,787, about 7 percent, were registered on orders of Justices of the Peace, and in 554 cases FIRs were not registered even after such orders. The Court concluded that a number of persons suffer and are pushed into litigation because of the failure of the police to register the FIR (paragraph 7). ## What the Court ordered On 4 September 2015 the Court issued fifteen directions to governments, police, prosecutors and others. The first: until a public complaints website and number are launched, the provisions of section 154 should be strictly adhered to, and action should be taken against any police official who fails to abide by them (paragraph 9). The Court also directed that serious notice be taken of frivolous, false or vexatious complaints, with cases registered under sections 182 and 211 of the Pakistan Penal Code where applicable (paragraph 9). ## The case at a glance - **Facts:** The matter came to the Supreme Court as a civil petition against an order of the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, and in it the Court examined the criminal justice system. Reports placed before the Court showed that police stations often refuse FIRs and that many FIRs in Punjab were registered only on orders of Justices of the Peace. - **The question:** What must be done about the police's failure to register FIRs and other failures of the criminal justice system. - **What the Court held:** Section 154 is mandatory. The Court directed that it be strictly adhered to and that action be taken against any police official who fails to abide by it, alongside fourteen other directions. - **Why:** Failure to register FIRs pushes people into litigation, the Justice of the Peace cannot issue coercive process, and directions to act against defaulting SHOs are rarely implemented. A functioning criminal justice system is linked to fundamental rights under Articles 9, 10, 10A and 14. - **Limits:** These were directions in an ongoing matter, not a judgment on one person's FIR. The Court also warned against false or vexatious complaints. The right to an FIR is for a cognizable offence; for a non-cognizable offence the procedure is different. ## In the Court’s words > "While this provision is mandatory in nature, often the concerned police station refuses to register the FIR even if the information provided to it relates to the commission of a cognizable offence." (2015 SCMR 1724, para 7) > "It is thus clear that a number of persons suffer and are pushed into litigation because of failure of the police to register the FIR." (2015 SCMR 1724, para 7) > "Till such time that the website has been launched, the provisions of section 154, Cr.P.C. should be strictly adhered to and action should be taken against any police official who fails to abide by the said provision." (2015 SCMR 1724, para 9, direction (i)) ## The law it relies on - **Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, s.154:** "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", signed by the person giving it, and its substance entered in a book kept by that officer. - **Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, s.22-A(6):** "An ex-officio Justice of the Peace may issue appropriate directions to the police authorities concerned on a complaint regarding (i) non-registration of a criminal case", as well as transfer of investigation and neglect, failure or excess by a police authority. - **Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, s.25:** Sessions Judges "are Justices of the Peace within and for the whole of the territories administered by the Provincial Government under which they are serving". ## What this does not mean - It does not mean you should go straight to the Justice of the Peace. The Supreme Court in PLD 2016 SC 581 expects you to apply to the SHO and then to the senior police first, and to keep proof. - It does not mean the police must register anything at all. Section 154 is about information of a cognizable offence. - It does not protect false complaints. The Supreme Court directed that false or vexatious complaints be taken seriously under sections 182 and 211 of the Pakistan Penal Code. ## Questions people ask ### What do I do if the SHO refuses to register my FIR? Give him a written application and keep a copy. If he still refuses, complain in writing to the senior police, such as the DPO or RPO. Then you can apply under section 22-A(6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure to the Sessions Judge as ex-officio Justice of the Peace. ### Can the Justice of the Peace order the police to register the case? Section 22-A(6) lets an ex-officio Justice of the Peace issue appropriate directions to the police on a complaint about non-registration of a criminal case. The Supreme Court in PLD 2016 SC 581 said he should first see that you went to the SHO and the senior police. ### Is there anything else if the FIR is still not registered? Speak to a lawyer about your options on your facts. This article covers the FIR route under sections 154 and 22-A only. ## Sources - Haider Ali v. DPO Chakwal, 2015 SCMR 1724, Supreme Court of Pakistan, 4 September 2015, paras 7, 9. Police stations often refuse FIRs even for cognizable offences; section 154 to be strictly adhered to and action taken against any police official who fails to abide by it. (verified against full text) (official text: https://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/downloads_judgements/C.P._1282_2014_dt_4-9-15.pdf) - Younas Abbas v. Additional Sessions Judge, Chakwal, PLD 2016 SC 581, Supreme Court of Pakistan. Before directing registration under s.22-A(6)(i), the Justice of the Peace must see that the applicant went to the SHO and then to the higher police officers. (verified against full text) (official text: https://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/downloads_judgements/C.A._1491_2013.pdf) - Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, ss.154, 22-A, 25 (text checked in FAI Statute Search) (official text: https://pakistancode.gov.pk/english/UY2FqaJw1-apaUY2Fqa-apaUY2Npa5lp-sg-jjjjjjjjjjjjj) ## What the reel says Heard this one? "If the police won't register your FIR, nothing can be done." Wrong. The law, CrPC section 154: report a cognizable offence and the SHO has to write it down. If he refuses, write to the DPO. Still nothing? The Sessions Judge, as Justice of the Peace (section 22-A), can order the police to register it. Supreme Court (September 2015): police stations often refuse FIRs, and people get pushed into court. Its order: section 154 must be strictly followed, and action taken against any officer who refuses (Haider Ali v. DPO Chakwal, 2015 SCMR 1724). --- Educational legal information, not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts. Speak to a qualified lawyer about your situation. Reading this page does not create a lawyer and client relationship. Review status: Pending advocate review. English: https://failegal.site/media/police-refuse-fir-section-154-justice-of-peace-2015-scmr-1724 · Urdu: https://failegal.site/media/ur/police-refuse-fir-section-154-justice-of-peace-2015-scmr-1724 FAI Media is part of FAI Legal (https://failegal.site), research on Pakistani statutes and judgments. Free to watch and read.