On receipt of a report about the commission of a cognizable offence, it should be recorded in the prescribed format, and this process is called the recording of: 

The correct answer is First Information Report.

Key Points

• A First Information Report (FIR) is a document prepared by the police when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offence.
• Under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, it is mandatory for police to register an FIR upon receiving information about a cognizable offence.
• The FIR must be recorded in writing, signed by the informant, and its copy must be provided free of cost to the informant.
• The purpose of the FIR is to set the criminal law in motion and enable the police to start their investigation.
• Cognizable offences include crimes where police can register an FIR and arrest the accused without prior approval of the magistrate, such as murder, theft, or rape.

Additional Information

• Key Terminologies Related to FIR:
  • Cognizable Offence: An offence where police are empowered to register an FIR and investigate without prior approval from a magistrate (e.g., murder, kidnapping).
  • Non-Cognizable Offence: An offence where police require prior approval from a magistrate to register a case (e.g., defamation, public nuisance).
  • Section 154 of CrPC: Governs the process of recording FIRs, ensuring that it is done in a written format and duly signed.
• Steps in Filing an FIR:
  • The informant provides details of the offence to the police.
  • The police record the details in the prescribed format.
  • The informant signs the FIR after verifying the content.
  • A free copy of the FIR is provided to the informant.
• Significance of FIR:
  • It serves as the first step in the criminal justice process.
  • Acts as a legal document to initiate investigation and prosecution.
  • Helps preserve the evidence and facts related to the crime.
• Landmark Judgments on FIR:
  • Lalita Kumari vs. Govt. of U.P. (2013): The Supreme Court ruled that police must register an FIR on receiving information about a cognizable offence.
  • Bhajan Lal Case (1992): Defined exceptional circumstances where an FIR can be quashed.