1. What is cognizable Offence ?

    In Cr. PC, the offences are divided into two categories; one Cognizable and the other Non-cognizable. Police is empowered to register the FIR and investigate only the cognizable offences. Police can arrest an accused involved in cognizable crime without the warrant from the Court.

  2. What is Non-cognizable Offence ?

    The category of offences as per Cr. PC in which Police can neither register the FIR nor can investigate or effect arrest without the express permission or directions from the court are known as Non-cognizable offences. These mostly include minor offences such as abusing each other, minor scuffles without injuries etc.

  3. What is First Information Report (FIR) ?

    Report pertaining to occurrence of a cognizable offence, received at the Police Station is called First Information Report (FIR), popularly known as FIR. 

  4. What to do if the Police Station refuses to register the FIR ?

    If the Police Station refuses to register FIR, substance of the information in writing can be sent by post to the SP Andaman & Nicobar. He, if satisfied that the information discloses the commission of a cognizable offence, shall get the FIR registered and investigated.

  5. What the Police Station does with a complaint pertaining to Non-cognizable offence ?

    As per Cr. PC, Police Station is required to record an abstract of such complaint in the General Diary and advise the complainant to file the complaint in the concerned court as police is not empowered to initiate action in such matters without the directions of the court. A copy of the entry made in the General Diary may be provided to the complainant free of cost.

  6. Is the complainant entitled to a free copy of the FIR ?




  8. What is a Bailable offence ?

    In bailable offences, the accused can claim bail as a matter of right. Police is supposed to release such an accused on bail if he is prepared to give bail at any time while he is in the custody of a Police Officer

  9. What is a Non-Bailable offence ?

    In non-bailable offences, the accused is not entitled to bail as a matter of right. Police invariably does not take bail in such cases and only the Court grants bail. The list of bailable and non-bailable offences is given in the first schedule of the Cr.P.C.

  10. Can Police call someone for investigation even if granted anticipatory bail by the court ?


  11. Is it an offence to register/lodge false FIR ?

    Yes. Lodging of a false FIR/complaint is punishable under IPC. Such an informant / complainant can be proceeded against under section 182 IPC or under section 211 IPC by the police. Private person against whom false FIR/complaint has been lodged can also file complaint in the court for the offence of defamation.

  12. Why Police does not remove encroachments from public lands when complained about it ?

    Police is not empowered to remove encroachments from public lands under any law. It is the job of the agency entrusted with the administration of the land i.e. Estate Officer, Municipal Corporation, Andaman & Nicobar . The job of the police is to provide police assistance for maintaining law and order when sought by such agencies.

  13. Why Police does not remove Liquor shops when public complains about such shops ?

    There are two kinds of liquor shops; one licensed by the State Excise Department and second not licensed by the State Excise Department. Police is empowered to take legal action against only those liquor shops, which run without a valid license from the State Excise Department. Only the State Excise Department is authorized to take any action including the cancellation of license of the licensed shops.

  14. What is preventive arrest ?

    Police is empowered to arrest a person when it is satisfied that doing so is essential in order to prevent occurrence of a cognizable offence example Sec 107/151 Crpc.  Police can also make preventive arrests under special Laws.