Under the Seventh Schedule of The Indian constitution 'Police' is given the primary responsibility of prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of crimes, including crimes against SC/ST lies with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Yet still the citizens of India are still confused to when to file a FIR, where should it be filed and what if the police station denies to file a FIR.

A FIR is information about the cognizable offence given to a police officer and reduced to writing as required by Section 154 is called the "First Information Report". Actually, the word FIR is not mentioned in this code anywhere, here the word "First Information Report" is used. This information must relate to the cognizable offence.

According to Section 154, it may be defined as follows:

• It is the information which is given to the police officer,
• Information must relate to a cognizable offence,
• It is the information first in point of time,
• It is on the basis of the information that investigation into the offence commences.

In the recent time filing an FIR has become easy and more time efficient because of e-FIR. The 22nd Law Commission of India, headed by Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, in its 282nd report recommended amendment of Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC), 1973. The Law Commission promoted e-FIR and made recommendations on its registration procedure, step towards the progressive digital India to the mission and national e-governance plan. Legality of E-FIR: E-FIR is just the same as the old traditional FIR. The IT ACT 2000 does provide with the legal framework to use digital signature and records to be used as evidence thus making E-FIR legal. Evidentiary Value of E-FIR and the effect of delay: Filing a FIR within time is crucial as it serves as important evidence in court of law. Any delay in filing the FIR weakens the evidentiary value of the FIR. With E-FIR being an option the plaintiff will get the benefit of reporting the incident on time. How to file an Online FIR/ E-FIR Complaint: To file an E-FIR, individuals can visit the official website of the associated police station and select the option to file FIR online. Currently, the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) allows Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand for e-FIR registration.

For filing an online FIR, the process involves several steps:

Delhi:

1. Step 1: Go to the Delhi Police Official Website.
2. Step 2: Select 'Lost & Found' from the homepage.
3. Step 3: Click 'Register' under the 'Lost Report' section.
4. Step 4: Fill in the required details:
   • Complainant's Name
   • Parents' Names
   • Address
   • Mobile Number
   • Email ID
   • Place, Date, and Time of Loss
   • Description of Lost Article
5. Step 5: Enter the given code and recheck your details.
6. Step 6: Click 'Submit.'
7. Step 7: Check your email for a copy of the e-FIR and print it.

Mumbai:

1. Step 1: Visit the Official Website of the Mumbai Police.
2. Step 2: Complete the Complaint Form with your details, including:
   • Police Station Name
   • Subject
   • Complaint Type
   • Personal Information
   • Email ID (to receive an OTP)
3. Step 3: Click 'Submit' after filling the form.
4. Step 4: Note your Complaint Number/FIR Number for future reference.

Kolkata:

1. Step 1: Access the Official Website of the Kolkata Police.
2. Step 2: Navigate to the 'Report a Crime' menu.
3. Step 3: Enter the necessary information, such as:
   • Crime Details
   • Address
   • Police Station
   • Email
4. Step 4: Click 'Send' to register your complaint.
5. Step 5: You will receive a confirmation email.

Chennai:

1. Step 1: Go to the Official Website of the Tamil Nadu Police Station.
2. Step 2: Select 'Information' for filing FIR or 'Complaints' for a police complaint from the online services box.
3. Step 3: File your FIR or complaint as per the instructions provided.

Uttar Pradesh:

1. Step 1: Visit the UP Police's official website.
2. Step 2: Go to the 'Citizen Services' area and select the 'E-FIR' option to access the CCTNS webpage.
3. Step 3: Register for an FIR or log in with your credentials.
4. Step 4: Complete the CCTNS portal registration to get your User ID and Password.
5. Step 5: Log in and submit the required information for the FIR.
6. Step 6: The online FIR verification process will begin, and the authorized FIR details will be sent via email or SMS.
7. Step 7: Download the PDF copy of the FIR from your email.

After a E FIR is filed a unique reference number shall be generated which can be used for future references.

Advantages of filing online FIR/ E-FIR Complaints

• Convenience: An E-FIR can be filed from home, with being in the comfort and avoiding the need of visiting the police station.
• Time Efficient: E-FIR is time efficient as it can be filed more easily than a traditional FIR. It's also a quick way of communication between the complainant and the police, reducing time for resolution.
• Easy Accessibility: As EFIR is a digital record it is quite easily accessible.

• Disadvantages of filing online FIR/ E-FIR Complaints
• Security concerns: As digital frauds and cybercrime being a common offence in the whole world, confidentiality and security of the online report can be compromised especially in sensitive cases.
• Time Taking: Police officers in India are still not used to the boom of technology therefore result of Online FIRs can be time consuming.

Conclusion
E-FIR complaints are a convenient and efficient way to report crime and get justice. A convenient and effective way to report a crime is E-FIR. Lack of concrete evidence and the possibility of false complaints are two major disadvantages of E-FIR that must be considered. It is important to understand these risks and be careful when using an eFIR file. E-FIR can be a useful tool in the fight against crime, but it must be used correctly and in conjunction with other traditional ways of reporting crimes to the police.

State Wise Websites To File E-FIR:

1. New Delhi https://www.delhipolice.nic.in/
2. Uttar Pradesh https://uppolice.gov.in/
3. Haryana https://haryanapoliceonline.gov.in/Login
4. Rajasthan https://police.rajasthan.gov.in/citizen/login.htm?lang=hi_IN&stov=XQGZ-3KME-CXDM-37RX-M2LJ-XR21-YJHS-4XMX
5. Maharashtra https://citizen.mahapolice.gov.in/Citizen/MH/index.aspx
6. Madhya Pradesh https://www.mppolice.gov.in/en/complaint-0
7. Gujarat https://gujhome.gujarat.gov.in/portal/webHP
8. Tamil Nadu https://eservices.tnpolice.gov.in/CCTNSNICSDC/Index?6
9. Himachal Pradesh citizenportal.hppolice.gov.in:8080/citizen/login.htm
10. Bihar https://ncsc.nic.in/pages/display/biharpolice.in/OnLineRegisterComplaint.aspx
11. Jharkhand https://jofs.jhpolice.gov.in/

References For The Article:

• https://ncsc.nic.in/pages/display/135-how-to-file-a-police-fir-complaint-onlinehow-to-file-a-police-fir-complaint-online
• https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_5_23_000010_197402_1517807320555&orderno=176
• https://uppolice.gov.in/
• https://www.uppolice.gov.in/article/en/cctns