LUCKNOW, March 30 -- In a move aimed at improving the quality of investigation and reducing legal confusion for citizens, the Uttar Pradesh Police headquarters has issued a detailed public-oriented directive clarifying that not every complaint can lead to registration of an FIR.

Acting on instructions from DGP Rajeev Krishna issued on March 18 and in compliance with a February 25 order of the Allahabad high court, the police have drawn a clear line between cases where FIRs are mandatory and those where the law requires a direct complaint before a magistrate or authorised authority. HT has accessed the PDF copy of the DGP's circular available on the official website of the UP Police.

In simple terms, if you approach a police station with...