A sexual violence survivor’s ordeal shows where Zero FIR falls short

On August 4, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women praised Zero FIR as one of the most progressive new criminal laws. Under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, a woman can register a FIR at any police station, regardless of the location of the offence. This was recommended by the 2013 Justice Verma Committee in the aftermath of the 2012 gangrape.

Despite this, police remain resistant to filing Zero FIRs, requiring painful persuasion and law reiteration. The ordeal for a survivor doesn't end with a Zero FIR though. The FIR is transferred to the jurisdictional police station, and the rest of the procedures are conducted there. Take the case of Mitra, a 15-year-old orphan living in a Mumbai slum.

She was brutally raped while visiting Raigad district. After struggling to file a Zero FIR, she was forced to travel to Raigad at her own expense for each procedure. The police refused to consider her vulnerabilities, including her pregnancy and lack of support, and even threatened severe action if she didn't cooperate. Mitra and her elder brother endured multiple trips to Raigad, waiting hours for procedures, and experiencing long waits for medical examinations.

The family had to fight for Mitra's right to a medical termination and a victim compensation that should have been granted within seven days. While Zero FIR is a good provision, it must extend to every subsequent procedure where the victim is required to attend. The state must issue clear and enforceable directions to ensure survivors receive support near their home.

Transport must be provided for survivors to attend procedures in other districts. The true measure of a progressive law is how it treats victims after they speak out. If reporting rape costs a family its income, safety, and stability, silence becomes the safer choice.