When a police station refuses to register an FIR for a cognizable offence, the complainant can ask the Magistrate to direct an investigation. For decades this was the "156(3) application" under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Since 1 July 2024 it is an application under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS). The new section adds steps that the old one didn't have.
This guide gives the 156(3) / 175(3) application format in English and Hindi (searched as "156 3 application format", "156 3 CrPC application format" or "application u/s 156(3)"), the Superintendent of Police complaint you must send first, the supporting affidavit, and the Supreme Court's 2025 ruling on how Magistrates must decide these applications.
Old section, new section
| Step | CrPC (old) | BNSS (new) |
|---|---|---|
| Information of a cognizable offence (FIR) | Section 154(1) | Section 173(1) |
| Complaint to the Superintendent of Police when the station refuses | Section 154(3) | Section 173(4) |
| Magistrate orders investigation | Section 156(3) | Section 175(3) |
| Investigation against a public servant for acts in official duty | No separate provision | Section 175(4) |
| Complaint case before the Magistrate | Section 200 | Section 223 |
| Magistrate's power to take cognizance | Section 190 | Section 210 |
Applications filed after 1 July 2024 go under Section 175(3) BNSS, even if the offence was committed earlier. The offence itself is still charged under the IPC if it was committed before that date. Use the CrPC to BNSS conversion table for other sections.
What changed from Section 156(3) CrPC
Section 175(3) codifies conditions the Supreme Court had already laid down in Priyanka Srivastava v. State of U.P. (2015), and adds new ones:
- Superintendent of Police first. The applicant must already have complained to the Superintendent of Police under Section 173(4) BNSS.
- Affidavit. The application must be supported by an affidavit.
- Inquiry. The Magistrate may make whatever inquiry is necessary before ordering an investigation.
- Police submission. The Magistrate must consider the submission of the police officer concerned.
In Om Prakash Ambadkar v. State of Maharashtra (2025 INSC 139), the Supreme Court held that a Magistrate cannot order an investigation mechanically. The Magistrate must apply their mind, check that the Superintendent of Police was approached with an affidavit, and consider the police's side. Hearing the police also makes the officer who refused the FIR accountable. High Courts have since read Sections 173(4) and 175(3) as steps to be taken in sequence: ordinarily, you can't skip the Superintendent of Police and go straight to the Magistrate.
Before you file: the three steps
- Police station (Section 173(1)). Give the information of the cognizable offence in writing, or electronically, and keep a receiving copy. Under Lalita Kumari v. Govt. of U.P. (2014), registering an FIR is mandatory when the information discloses a cognizable offence.
- One exception to know: for offences punishable with three years or more but less than seven years, Section 173(3) BNSS lets the officer, with the permission of a Deputy Superintendent of Police, hold a preliminary enquiry within 14 days to see whether there is a prima facie case. That is not a refusal. Wait for its outcome, or for the 14 days to run, before treating the FIR as refused.
- Superintendent of Police (Section 173(4)). Send the substance of the information in writing by post (registered or speed post) to the Superintendent of Police, and keep the postal receipt and tracking record. The Superintendent of Police may investigate personally or direct an investigation.
- Magistrate (Section 175(3)). If the police still don't act, apply to a Magistrate empowered under Section 210 BNSS who has jurisdiction over the police station, with an affidavit and copies of steps 1 and 2.
Format 1: Complaint to the Superintendent of Police (Section 173(4) BNSS)
To, The Superintendent of Police, District [name], [State] Subject: Information of a cognizable offence under Section 173(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, on refusal by the Officer in Charge, Police Station [name], to register an FIR Sir / Madam, 1. I, [name], S/o / D/o / W/o [name], aged [__] years, R/o [address], mobile [number], state as follows. 2. On [date] at about [time], at [place], [name(s) of accused, if known] [describe what happened: the act, the loss or injury, and who saw it]. 3. These facts disclose cognizable offences under Sections [__] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 4. On [date], I gave a written complaint at Police Station [name] (copy enclosed, receiving dated __). The Officer in Charge has not registered an FIR [or: refused to register it, saying __]. 5. I request you to register an FIR and investigate the case yourself, or direct an investigation by an officer subordinate to you, under Section 173(4) BNSS. Enclosures: copy of the complaint at the police station, [medical report / documents / photographs]. Yours faithfully, [Signature] [Name] Date: [__] (Sent by registered / speed post No. [__] dated [__])
Application under Section 175(3) BNSS: format
Police not registering your FIR? Paste the complainant's account, or upload a handwritten Hindi complaint, and Juniorlawyer drafts the SP complaint and this Section 175(3) application in English or Hindi, for you to check. Draft the application →
Adjust the court's name and the case-type title to local practice. Many districts still list these as "Misc. Application u/s 175(3) BNSS". To get a Word or PDF copy, paste the format into Word, fill in the brackets, and save it as .docx or PDF. The Hindi format is further down.
IN THE COURT OF THE [CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE / JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE
FIRST CLASS], [DISTRICT]
Misc. Criminal Application No. ______ of 20__
[Name], S/o / D/o / W/o [Name], aged [__] years,
R/o [address] ... Applicant
VERSUS
1. State of [State], through the Officer in Charge,
Police Station [name]
2. [Name of proposed accused], R/o [address] ... Respondents
APPLICATION UNDER SECTION 175(3) OF THE BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA
SANHITA, 2023 FOR A DIRECTION TO THE OFFICER IN CHARGE, POLICE STATION
[NAME], TO REGISTER AN FIR AND INVESTIGATE
MOST RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH:
1. That on [date] at about [time], at [place], the respondent No. 2
[describe the incident clearly: who, what, when, where, the loss
or injury, and the witnesses].
2. That the above facts disclose cognizable offences under Sections
[__] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
3. That on [date] the applicant gave a written complaint at Police
Station [name] (Annexure A-1), but no FIR has been registered.
4. That on [date] the applicant sent the substance of the information
in writing by registered / speed post to the Superintendent of
Police, [district], under Section 173(4) BNSS (Annexure A-2, with
postal receipt and tracking report as Annexure A-3). No action has
been taken till date.
5. That the evidence in the case [is with the accused / requires
recovery of documents or property / requires medical or forensic
examination / CCTV footage], which only a police investigation can
collect, and a direction under Section 175(3) is therefore necessary.
6. That this application is supported by the affidavit of the
applicant, as required by Section 175(3) BNSS.
7. That this Hon'ble Court has jurisdiction, as Police Station [name]
falls within its local limits.
8. That no other application for the same relief has been filed by
the applicant before any court.
PRAYER
It is therefore most respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court may be
pleased to:
(a) call for the submission of the Officer in Charge, Police Station
[name], and after such inquiry as it thinks necessary, direct him
to register an FIR on the facts stated above and investigate the
same in accordance with law; and
(b) pass any other order it deems fit in the interest of justice.
APPLICANT
Through
[Place] [Advocate name]
[Date] [Enrolment No.], Advocate
Supporting affidavit: format
IN THE COURT OF [__], [DISTRICT]
AFFIDAVIT
I, [name], S/o / D/o / W/o [name], aged [__] years, R/o [address], do
hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:
1. That I am the applicant in the accompanying application under
Section 175(3) BNSS and am fully conversant with the facts.
2. That the contents of paragraphs 1 to 8 of the application are true
and correct to my knowledge, and nothing material has been concealed.
3. That I approached Police Station [name] on [date] and the
Superintendent of Police, [district] under Section 173(4) BNSS on
[date], as stated in the application.
DEPONENT
VERIFICATION
Verified at [place] on [date] that the contents of the above affidavit
are true and correct to my knowledge, and nothing has been concealed.
DEPONENT
Have the affidavit sworn before an Oath Commissioner or Notary. A false affidavit can expose the deponent to prosecution, and the Supreme Court stressed the affidavit precisely to discourage false applications.
धारा 175(3) बीएनएसएस आवेदन प्रारूप (156(3) Application Format in Hindi)
न्यायालय श्रीमान [मुख्य न्यायिक मजिस्ट्रेट / न्यायिक मजिस्ट्रेट प्रथम श्रेणी],
[जिला]
विविध आपराधिक आवेदन संख्या ______ वर्ष 20__
[नाम], पुत्र / पुत्री / पत्नी [नाम], आयु [__] वर्ष,
निवासी [पता] ... आवेदक
बनाम
1. राज्य [राज्य], द्वारा थाना प्रभारी, थाना [नाम]
2. [प्रस्तावित अभियुक्त का नाम], निवासी [पता] ... विपक्षीगण
भारतीय नागरिक सुरक्षा संहिता, 2023 की धारा 175(3) के अंतर्गत थाना
प्रभारी को प्रथम सूचना रिपोर्ट दर्ज कर विवेचना करने का निर्देश देने हेतु
आवेदन
महोदय,
1. यह कि दिनांक [__] को लगभग [समय] बजे [स्थान] पर विपक्षी संख्या 2
ने [घटना का स्पष्ट विवरण: क्या हुआ, किसने किया, क्या नुकसान या
चोट हुई, और कौन गवाह हैं]।
2. यह कि उक्त तथ्यों से भारतीय न्याय संहिता, 2023 की धारा [__] के
अंतर्गत संज्ञेय अपराध बनते हैं।
3. यह कि आवेदक ने दिनांक [__] को थाना [नाम] पर लिखित सूचना दी
(संलग्नक अ-1), परंतु प्रथम सूचना रिपोर्ट दर्ज नहीं की गई।
4. यह कि आवेदक ने दिनांक [__] को धारा 173(4) बीएनएसएस के अंतर्गत
पुलिस अधीक्षक, [जिला] को पंजीकृत / स्पीड डाक से लिखित सूचना भेजी
(संलग्नक अ-2 एवं डाक रसीद अ-3), परंतु आज तक कोई कार्यवाही नहीं हुई।
5. यह कि साक्ष्य [अभियुक्त के पास है / बरामदगी आवश्यक है / चिकित्सा
या फॉरेंसिक जाँच आवश्यक है], जो केवल पुलिस विवेचना से ही एकत्र
हो सकते हैं।
6. यह कि यह आवेदन आवेदक के शपथ पत्र से समर्थित है।
7. यह कि थाना [नाम] इस न्यायालय के क्षेत्राधिकार में आता है।
प्रार्थना
अतः श्रीमान से निवेदन है कि थाना प्रभारी, थाना [नाम] से आख्या मँगाकर,
आवश्यक जाँच के उपरांत, उन्हें उक्त तथ्यों पर प्रथम सूचना रिपोर्ट दर्ज
कर विधि अनुसार विवेचना करने का निर्देश देने की कृपा करें।
आवेदक
द्वारा
स्थान: [__] [अधिवक्ता का नाम]
दिनांक: [__] [नामांकन संख्या], अधिवक्ता
Documents checklist
- The complaint given at the police station, with its receiving
- The complaint to the Superintendent of Police under Section 173(4), with the postal receipt and tracking report
- The applicant's affidavit
- Supporting material: medical report, photographs, documents, messages, CCTV details, and witness names
- A typed copy and translation of any handwritten or regional-language document, where the court needs one
- A vakalatnama, if filed through an advocate
Hindi legal document OCR can turn a handwritten Hindi complaint or medical report into typed text for you to check.
What the Magistrate can do
- Call for the police's submission and make an inquiry, as Section 175(3) allows.
- Direct registration of an FIR and investigation, with reasons.
- Decline the direction where the applicant can produce the evidence themselves, for example in a dispute based entirely on documents. The Magistrate may then take the matter up as a complaint case under Section 223 BNSS and record the applicant's statement and witnesses.
- Reject the application if Section 173(4) was skipped, the affidavit is missing, or no cognizable offence is disclosed.
If the application is rejected, the usual remedy is a revision before the Sessions Court or High Court (Sections 438 and 442 BNSS), or a fresh complaint under Section 223.
Complaints against public servants: Section 175(4)
If the complaint is against a public servant for something done in the course of official duty, Section 175(4) BNSS applies. The Magistrate may order an investigation only after receiving a report from the officer's superior and considering the public servant's account of the incident. High Courts have held that Section 175(4) is not a way around the affidavit and Superintendent of Police requirements of Section 175(3).
Common mistakes
- Skipping the Superintendent of Police. Going straight to the Magistrate is the most common reason these applications fail under the BNSS.
- No proof of posting. Keep the postal receipt and tracking report; an unsigned or undated copy isn't enough.
- Missing or defective affidavit. It must be sworn and must support the facts in the application.
- Citing Section 156(3) CrPC in an application filed after 1 July 2024. Use Section 175(3) BNSS.
- Writing an opinion instead of facts. State who, what, when and where, and the loss or injury. Name the offence sections, but let the facts carry the case.
- Using it for a purely civil dispute. Courts refuse directions where the "offence" is really unpaid money or a breach of contract. See the Section 420 / 318(4) BNS guide for where cheating begins.
- Applying during a valid preliminary enquiry for a 3-to-7-year offence under Section 173(3), before its 14 days have run.
धारा 175(3) बीएनएसएस क्या है? (हिंदी में सार)
धारा 175(3) बीएनएसएस पुरानी धारा 156(3) सीआरपीसी की जगह आई है। यदि थाना संज्ञेय अपराध की प्रथम सूचना रिपोर्ट (FIR) दर्ज नहीं करता, तो मजिस्ट्रेट पुलिस को एफआईआर दर्ज कर विवेचना करने का निर्देश दे सकता है। इसके लिए:
- पहले थाने पर लिखित सूचना दें।
- फिर धारा 173(4) के अंतर्गत पुलिस अधीक्षक (SP) को डाक से लिखित सूचना भेजें।
- इसके बाद मजिस्ट्रेट के समक्ष शपथ पत्र सहित धारा 175(3) का आवेदन दें।
मजिस्ट्रेट आवश्यक जाँच कर सकता है और पुलिस का पक्ष सुनेगा। सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने ओम प्रकाश अंबाडकर बनाम महाराष्ट्र राज्य (2025) में कहा है कि मजिस्ट्रेट यांत्रिक रूप से आदेश नहीं दे सकता।
Draft it from the complaint
Juniorlawyer can turn the complainant's account, or a handwritten Hindi complaint, into a first draft of the Superintendent of Police complaint and the Section 175(3) application in this structure, in English or Hindi. You then check and complete it. Verify every section, date and fact against the documents before filing. See Juniorlawyer's drafting features.