Forget jurisdiction, file FIR if a woman is in trouble, says Rakesh Maria

Mumbai police commissioner, Rakesh Maria on Wednesday issued a notice to all police stations stating that a woman with a complaint of a serious offence must not be turned down. If a woman, who is a victim of a serious offence, approaches any police station, then the police should register a case rather than make her run from pillar to post.

"If a woman comes to a police station with problems then the police officer, instead of telling her about jurisdiction or giving other reasons for not registering a complaint, should immediately register one and provide all possible assistance to the victim," states the circular.

The circular also mentioned about a recent case wherein a girl had approached the Dharavi police station to register a complaint, but was directed to Shahu Nagar police station, which in turn directed her to Bandra police station where finally the complaint got registered. "Such conduct of the police has maligned the image of the force. A departmental inquiry has been ordered following this," the circular states.

"I have asked all police stations that if a woman approaches them with a complaint that she has been victim of serious offence, then the concerned police station will have to register an FIR even if the offence did not occur within its jurisdiction. They will have to file a zero FIR and forward the same to the concerned police station where the offence occurred. And if a woman happens to call on the control room number, instead of asking the woman to go to the nearest police station, policemen will have to go and visit her," said Maria.