Last reviewed: October 2026 · General information only, not legal advice.
Emergency Helpline Numbers
Save these numbers. In any immediate danger, call 112 first.
Online: report cyber crime at cybercrime.gov.in; consumer complaints at consumerhelpline.gov.in.
Emergency: What to Do
Step-by-step actions for the situations people most often face. Act quickly — many remedies depend on time.
Police refuse to register your FIR
- Give a written complaint at the police station and keep a copy with the station's receiving stamp.
- You can file at any police station (Zero FIR), even if the offence happened elsewhere BNSS 173(1).
- You can also give information electronically (e-FIR); sign it at the station within 3 days.
- If refused, send the complaint to the Superintendent of Police / DCP by post or email BNSS 173(4).
- If still no action, apply to the Magistrate with an affidavit BNSS 175(3).
A family member is arrested
- Find out the police station and the grounds of arrest — police must tell the arrested person BNSS 47 and inform a relative or friend BNSS 48.
- Ensure an arrest memo is prepared and signed by a witness BNSS 36.
- Contact a lawyer. The arrested person may meet an advocate during interrogation BNSS 38.
- The person must be produced before a Magistrate within 24 hours BNSS 58.
- Apply for bail — in bailable offences bail is a right. Do not sign blank or unread papers.
You lost money to online / UPI fraud
- Call 1930 immediately — the first hours matter most for freezing the money.
- Call your bank to block the card / UPI / net banking and report the transaction.
- Register the complaint on cybercrime.gov.in and note the acknowledgement number.
- Keep screenshots, SMS, call logs, UTR / transaction IDs.
- Report to the bank within 3 working days — RBI rules then limit your liability for unauthorised transactions.
Domestic violence or dowry harassment
- If in danger, call 112 or 181 and move to a safe place.
- Get medical treatment and keep the medical record.
- Approach a One Stop Centre (Sakhi), the Protection Officer or the Magistrate under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 for protection, residence and maintenance orders.
- You have a right to live in the shared household, irrespective of ownership PWDVA 17.
- A police complaint for cruelty can be filed under BNS 85/86 (old IPC 498A).
Road accident or medical emergency
- Call 108 / 112 and help the injured reach a hospital.
- A Good Samaritan who helps an accident victim cannot be held liable and need not disclose their identity MV Act 134A.
- No hospital can refuse emergency treatment to an injured person because it is a police case (Supreme Court, Parmanand Katara, 1989).
- Note the vehicle number, take photos, and ensure an FIR is registered for insurance and compensation claims.
You receive a bank / SARFAESI notice
- A Section 13(2) notice gives 60 days to pay — do not ignore it.
- You can send a written representation or objection; the bank must reply within 15 days SARFAESI 13(3A).
- If the bank takes possession, you can challenge it before the DRT within 45 days SARFAESI 17.
- Explore restructuring or one-time settlement early. Read our SARFAESI guide →
Your Rights with the Police
When you file a complaint
Zero FIR & e-FIRAn FIR for a cognizable offence can be registered at any police station, and information can be given electronically BNSS 173(1).
Free copy of FIRThe informant or victim is entitled to a free copy of the FIR BNSS 173(2).
Progress updatesPolice must inform the victim of the progress of investigation within 90 days BNSS 193(3).
Free medical treatmentAll hospitals must give free first aid and treatment to victims of rape and acid attack BNSS 397.
If you are questioned or arrested
Know the groundsYou must be told the grounds of arrest and, for bailable offences, your right to bail BNSS 47; Art. 22.
Family informedPolice must inform a relative or friend named by you about the arrest and place of custody BNSS 48.
Right to a lawyerYou may consult and be defended by a lawyer of your choice, and meet them during interrogation Art. 22(1); BNSS 38.
24-hour ruleYou cannot be held in police custody beyond 24 hours without being produced before a Magistrate BNSS 58.
Right to silenceNo one can be compelled to be a witness against themselves Art. 20(3). A confession made to the police is not admissible in evidence BSA 23.
Medical examinationAn arrested person is to be medically examined, and may request it BNSS 53.
Notice instead of arrestFor offences punishable up to 7 years, police may issue a notice to appear instead of arresting BNSS 35(3).
Seniors & infirmFor offences punishable with less than 3 years, a person who is infirm or above 60 cannot be arrested without permission of an officer of DSP rank or above BNSS 35(7).
Special protections for women, children and seniors
- Women, children under 15, persons above 60 and persons with disabilities cannot be required to go to the police station as witnesses; they may be questioned at their residence BNSS 179.
- A woman cannot be arrested after sunset or before sunrise except in exceptional cases, by a woman officer, with prior permission of a Magistrate BNSS 43(5).
- A woman can be searched only by another woman, with strict regard to decency.
- A police officer who fails to record an FIR for specified offences against women commits an offence BNS 199.
Other important rights
- Free legal aid: Women, children, SC/ST members, persons in custody, persons with disabilities, victims of disaster or trafficking and persons with low income are entitled to a free lawyer through the Legal Services Authority Art. 39A; LSA Act 12. Call 15100.
- Right to Information: Ask any public authority for information for a ₹10 fee; reply is due in 30 days, or 48 hours if life or liberty is involved. How to file an RTI →
- Consumer rights: File a consumer complaint online within 2 years of the cause of action. Read our guide →
- Senior citizens: Parents and senior citizens can claim maintenance from children or relatives before a tribunal under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
- Workplace harassment: Women can complain to the Internal Committee within 3 months under the POSH Act, 2013.
Right to Information (RTI): How to File and Appeal
Every citizen can ask any public authority — government departments, police, municipal bodies, public sector banks, government hospitals, universities and others — for information and copies of records under the Right to Information Act, 2005. You do not have to give any reason for asking RTI 6(2).
Step-by-step: filing an RTI application
- Identify the public authority that holds the information and its Public Information Officer (PIO). Most offices display the PIO's name and address.
- Write the application on plain paper (in English, Hindi or the official language of the area). Address it to "The Public Information Officer" of the office. Give your name and address for reply.
- Ask specific, numbered questions. You can ask for certified copies of documents, file notings, the status of your application or complaint, or to inspect records. Avoid asking "why" questions — ask for the records instead.
- Pay the fee: ₹10 for Central Government offices (by postal order, demand draft, cash with receipt, or online). State fees vary. Persons below the poverty line pay no fee on attaching a copy of their BPL card RTI 7(5).
- Submit by speed post / registered post, by hand (take a receipt), or online at rtionline.gov.in for Central Government ministries and departments. Many states, including Uttar Pradesh, have their own RTI portals.
- Keep copies of the application, fee proof and postal receipt.
Time limits for a reply
| Situation | Reply due within | Provision |
|---|
| Normal application | 30 days | RTI 7(1) |
| Life or liberty of a person involved | 48 hours | RTI 7(1) |
| Filed through an Assistant PIO | 35 days | RTI 5(2) |
| Application relates to another authority | Transferred within 5 days | RTI 6(3) |
If no reply is given in time, it is treated as a refusal RTI 7(2), and information then has to be supplied free of charge RTI 7(6).
If you get no reply or an unsatisfactory reply
- First appeal to the First Appellate Authority — a senior officer in the same office — within 30 days of the reply or of the date the reply was due RTI 19(1). It should be decided within 30 days (maximum 45).
- Second appeal to the Central Information Commission (for Central bodies) or the State Information Commission (for State bodies) within 90 days of the first appeal decision or due date RTI 19(3).
- Complaint directly to the Information Commission if the PIO refused to accept your application, demanded an unreasonable fee, or gave false information RTI 18.
- The Commission can impose a penalty of ₹250 per day, up to ₹25,000, on a PIO who delays or refuses information without reasonable cause RTI 20.
Some information is exempt — for example matters affecting national security, information received in confidence from foreign governments, cabinet papers before a decision, and personal information of other individuals RTI 8. RTI cannot be used against private companies directly, but information about them held by a public authority (such as a regulator) can be sought.
Lok Adalat: Settle Cases Quickly, Free of Cost
Lok Adalats ("people's courts") are organised by the Legal Services Authorities to settle disputes amicably. There is no court fee, the procedure is informal, and a settlement becomes a final decree that cannot be appealed LSA Act 21. National Lok Adalats are held across India on fixed dates several times a year.
Cases that can be settled
- Cheque bounce cases NI Act 138
- Bank loan recovery and credit card dues
- Motor accident compensation claims (MACT)
- Matrimonial and family disputes (other than divorce), maintenance
- Electricity, water and telephone bill disputes
- Traffic challans and other compoundable petty offences
- Labour, service, revenue, land acquisition and civil money disputes
- Compoundable criminal cases
Non-compoundable criminal offences cannot be settled in a Lok Adalat.
Step-by-step: getting your case to a Lok Adalat
- If your case is already pending in court: ask the court (through your lawyer or by a simple application) to refer it to the next Lok Adalat LSA Act 20. Either party can ask; the court can also refer it on its own if it sees a chance of settlement.
- If no case has been filed yet (pre-litigation): apply in writing to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) or the Taluk / Tehsil Legal Services Committee with a short description of the dispute and documents. The DLSA sends a notice to the other party.
- Check the date of the next National Lok Adalat on the NALSA website or with the DLSA (for Delhi: DSLSA; for Ghaziabad: DLSA Ghaziabad under UPSLSA). For traffic challans, tokens are usually issued online a few days before.
- Attend on the date with all documents, ID proof and, if settling dues, the means to pay or a proposed instalment plan. Lawyers may assist.
- Settlement: if both sides agree, the terms are written down and signed by the parties and the members of the Lok Adalat. The award is binding and enforceable like a court decree.
- No settlement? The case simply goes back to the regular court and continues from where it was. Nothing said in the Lok Adalat is used against you.
Court fee refund: if a pending case is settled in a Lok Adalat, the court fee paid is refunded.
Permanent Lok Adalats handle disputes about public utility services — transport, post, telecom, electricity, water, hospitals, insurance and banking — up to ₹1 crore. Unlike regular Lok Adalats, they can decide the dispute on merits if a settlement fails LSA Act 22C.
New Criminal Laws: BNS, BNSS & BSA
From 1 July 2024, three new laws replaced India's colonial-era criminal laws. Offences committed before that date continue to be governed by the old law.
| Old law | New law | Covers |
|---|
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) | Offences and punishments |
| Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) | Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) | FIR, arrest, bail, investigation, trial |
| Indian Evidence Act, 1872 | Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) | Rules of evidence |
Key changes citizens should know
- Zero FIR and e-FIR are now part of the statute, and victims get a free copy of the FIR and progress updates within 90 days.
- New offences: organised crime BNS 111, terrorist act BNS 113, murder by a mob on grounds of race, caste, community, etc. BNS 103(2), snatching BNS 304, and sexual intercourse by deceitful means such as a false promise of marriage BNS 69.
- Sedition (IPC 124A) removed and replaced with acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India BNS 152.
- Community service introduced as a punishment for certain petty offences BNS 4(f).
- Videography of search and seizure is mandatory BNSS 105, and forensic experts must visit the scene for offences punishable with 7 years or more BNSS 176(3).
- First-time undertrials must be released on bail after serving one-third of the maximum sentence BNSS 479.
- Electronic records such as emails, messages and server logs are treated as documents and can be primary evidence; the certificate requirement moves to BSA 63 (old Section 65B).
- Time limits: judgments generally within 30 days of completion of arguments (extendable to 45) BNSS 258.
IPC to BNS: commonly searched sections
| IPC | BNS | Offence |
|---|
| 34 | 3(5) | Acts done with common intention |
| 120B | 61(2) | Criminal conspiracy |
| 124A | 152 | Sedition → acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India |
| 153A | 196 | Promoting enmity between groups |
| 279 | 281 | Rash driving on a public way |
| 295A | 299 | Outraging religious feelings |
| 302 | 103(1) | Murder |
| 304 | 105 | Culpable homicide not amounting to murder |
| 304A | 106(1) | Death by negligence |
| 304B | 80 | Dowry death |
| 306 | 108 | Abetment of suicide |
| 307 | 109 | Attempt to murder |
| 323 | 115(2) | Voluntarily causing hurt |
| 324 | 118(1) | Hurt by dangerous weapons or means |
| 325 | 117(2) | Voluntarily causing grievous hurt |
| 354 | 74 | Assault to outrage a woman's modesty |
| 354A | 75 | Sexual harassment |
| 354D | 78 | Stalking |
| 363 | 137(2) | Kidnapping |
| 376 | 64 | Rape |
| 379 | 303(2) | Theft |
| 384 | 308(2) | Extortion |
| 392 | 309(4) | Robbery |
| 406 | 316(2) | Criminal breach of trust |
| 409 | 316(5) | Criminal breach of trust by public servant, banker, agent |
| 411 | 317(2) | Dishonestly receiving stolen property |
| 420 | 318(4) | Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property |
| 447 | 329(3) | Criminal trespass |
| 467 | 338 | Forgery of valuable security, will, etc. |
| 468 | 336(3) | Forgery for the purpose of cheating |
| 471 | 340(2) | Using a forged document as genuine |
| 498A | 85, 86 | Cruelty by husband or his relatives |
| 499, 500 | 356 | Defamation |
| 506 | 351 | Criminal intimidation |
| 509 | 79 | Word, gesture or act intended to insult a woman's modesty |
CrPC to BNSS: commonly searched sections
| CrPC | BNSS | Provision |
|---|
| 41A | 35(3) | Notice of appearance before police |
| 125 | 144 | Maintenance of wife, children and parents |
| 144 | 163 | Urgent orders in cases of nuisance or apprehended danger |
| 154 | 173 | FIR – information in cognizable cases |
| 156(3) | 175(3) | Magistrate's order to investigate |
| 161 | 180 | Examination of witnesses by police |
| 164 | 183 | Statement before a Magistrate |
| 173 | 193 | Police report (charge-sheet) |
| 200 | 223 | Complaint to a Magistrate |
| 436 | 478 | Bail in bailable offences |
| 436A | 479 | Maximum period of detention of undertrials |
| 437 | 480 | Bail in non-bailable offences |
| 438 | 482 | Anticipatory bail |
| 439 | 483 | Bail powers of High Court and Sessions Court |
| 482 | 528 | Inherent powers of the High Court (e.g. quashing) |
Evidence Act to BSA
| Evidence Act | BSA | Provision |
|---|
| 25, 26 | 23 | Confession to police not admissible |
| 32 | 26 | Dying declaration and statements of persons who cannot be called |
| 65B | 63 | Admissibility of electronic records |
Section numbers above are a quick reference. Many old sections were split or merged, and punishments may differ. Always check the bare text of the new law, or consult a lawyer, before relying on a section number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Zero FIR?
A Zero FIR is an FIR registered at any police station regardless of where the offence took place. The police station must register it and then transfer it to the police station that has jurisdiction. It is now expressly provided for in Section 173(1) of the BNSS.
What is the new section for IPC 420 under BNS?
Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, earlier Section 420 IPC, is now Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
What is the new section for 498A IPC?
Cruelty by the husband or his relatives, earlier Section 498A IPC, is now covered by Sections 85 and 86 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Do the new criminal laws apply to old cases?
Offences committed before 1 July 2024 are tried under the IPC, while proceedings pending on that date generally continue under the old procedure. Offences committed on or after 1 July 2024 are governed by the BNS, BNSS and BSA.
Can the police arrest me without telling me why?
No. Under Article 22 of the Constitution and Section 47 of the BNSS, a person arrested must be informed of the grounds of arrest and, in bailable offences, of the right to be released on bail.
How do I file an RTI application online?
For Central Government ministries and departments, file at rtionline.gov.in and pay the ₹10 fee online. Many states, including Uttar Pradesh, have their own RTI portals. For other offices, send a written application with the fee to the Public Information Officer by post or by hand.
What if I do not get a reply to my RTI within 30 days?
It is treated as a refusal. You can file a first appeal with the First Appellate Authority of the same office within 30 days, and then a second appeal to the Central or State Information Commission within 90 days. The information must then be given free of charge.
How can I get my case settled in Lok Adalat?
If the case is pending in court, apply to that court to refer it to the next Lok Adalat. If no case has been filed, apply to the District Legal Services Authority for a pre-litigation Lok Adalat. On the Lok Adalat date, if both sides agree, the settlement is recorded as an award that is final and binding.
Can a Lok Adalat award be appealed?
No. Under Section 21 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, a Lok Adalat award is deemed to be a decree of a civil court, is final and binding, and no appeal lies against it. It can be challenged only in limited cases, such as fraud, through a writ petition.
Who is eligible for free legal aid in India?
Under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, women, children, members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, persons in custody, persons with disabilities, victims of trafficking or disasters, industrial workmen and persons below the notified income limit are eligible. Call the NALSA helpline 15100.