NC stands for Non-Cognizable Complaint. In a police station, an NC is a written complaint about an offence where the police do NOT have the power to arrest the accused without a warrant from a magistrate. Non-cognizable offences are generally less serious in nature.
NC = Non-Cognizable Complaint — filed for less serious offences.
Section 155 CrPC: police cannot arrest without a warrant for NC offences.
NC complaints go in the NC register; FIRs go in the FIR register.
For NC offences, police need magistrate's permission to investigate.
Examples of NC offences: defamation, minor assault, cheating, public nuisance.
FIR (Section 154 CrPC) is for cognizable offences — murder, rape, robbery, etc.
New law: Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 replaces CrPC.
Definition: An NC (Non-Cognizable) complaint is a complaint lodged with the police for a non-cognizable offence — one where the police cannot: • Arrest the accused without a court warrant • Investigate the case without the magistrate's permission • Search premises without a warrant
Legal Basis: • Section 155 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 • (In the new law, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, Section 155 corresponds to Section 142)
What Happens When You File an NC:
Examples of Non-Cognizable Offences: • Assault (simple, without grievous hurt) • Cheating (in some cases) • Defamation • Insulting a public servant • Public nuisance • Minor quarrels, theft of small amounts (in some jurisdictions)
Difference Between FIR and NC:
| Feature | FIR (First Information Report) | NC Complaint |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | First Information Report | Non-Cognizable Complaint |
| Offence type | Cognizable offence | Non-Cognizable offence |
| Arrest | Police can arrest without warrant | Police need court warrant |
| Investigation | Police can investigate without magistrate order | Need magistrate's permission |
| Register | FIR register | NC register |
| Seriousness | Serious offences | Less serious offences |
| Examples | Murder, rape, robbery, dacoity | Cheating, defamation, minor assault |
| Section | Section 154 CrPC | Section 155 CrPC |
Cognizable Offences (where FIR is filed): • Murder, rape, kidnapping, dacoity, robbery, theft • These are serious crimes where the police must act immediately
Zero FIR: • An FIR can be filed at any police station, regardless of jurisdiction — this is a Zero FIR • The police station that files it must transfer the case to the correct jurisdiction police station
NC stands for Non-Cognizable Complaint. It is a complaint filed at a police station for a non-cognizable offence — one where the police cannot arrest the accused without a court warrant, and cannot investigate without the magistrate's permission. It is governed by Section 155 of the CrPC. NC offences are less serious than cognizable offences (where an FIR is filed).
An FIR (First Information Report, Section 154 CrPC) is filed for serious cognizable offences (murder, rape, robbery) — police can arrest without warrant. An NC complaint (Section 155 CrPC) is for less serious non-cognizable offences (defamation, minor assault) — police cannot arrest without a magistrate's warrant. FIRs go in the FIR register; NC complaints go in a separate NC register.
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