FIR Registration as a Civil Right: Reimagining Access to Criminal Justice: A Constitutional, Procedural, and Human Rights Analysis of Access to Criminal Justice

FIR Registration as a Civil Right: Reimagining Access to Criminal Justice What happens when a person approaches the criminal justice system with a genuine complaint, but the first doorway to justice—the registration of a First Information Report—is delayed, denied, or ignored? FIR Registration as a Civil Right: Reimagining Access to Criminal Justice examines the right to FIR registration through the interconnected lenses of criminal procedure, constitutional law, civil rights, human rights, and access to justice. The book explores whether FIR registration should be understood merely as a procedural requirement or as an essential legal right through which individuals gain meaningful access to the criminal justice system. It examines the duties of law-enforcement authorities, the consequences of refusal or delay, and the legal remedies available to individuals seeking recognition and protection of their rights. Drawing upon statutory provisions, judicial decisions, constitutional principles, and comparative perspectives, this work critically examines the relationship between individual rights and state responsibility at the earliest stage of criminal proceedings. At its heart, the book raises a fundamental question: Can access to justice truly be meaningful when the very entry point into the criminal justice system can be denied without adequate legal justification? By positioning FIR registration within the broader framework of dignity, equality, liberty, due process, and the rule of law, this book seeks to contribute to contemporary discussions on procedural justice and the protection of individual rights. This work will be of interest to legal scholars, researchers, law students, practitioners, policymakers, and readers interested in criminal procedure, constitutional rights, civil liberties, and access to justice.