Criminal Procedure: FIR to Appeal Sequence

2026-06-02

Exam Snapshot

This is the lifeline of criminal litigation in Nepal. Understanding the sequence is vital for both procedural MCQs and practical application.

The criminal justice process acts as a check and balance, moving from the initiation of a case to judicial oversight:

First Information Report (FIR/Jahiri): Initiated under Section 5. Official intimation of a crime.
Investigation: Conducted by police under Section 13. Includes evidence collection.
Charge Sheet (Abhiyojan): Prosecutor files the case in court under Section 32.
Detention Order (Thunche Aadesh): Court decides custody/bail under Section 67.
Trial/Hearing: Evidence production, cross-examination, and final arguments under Section 110.
Judgment (Faisala): Court's final decision on conviction and sentencing.
Appeal (Punaraavedan): Right to challenge judgment in a higher court under Section 130.

Muluki Criminal Procedure Code, 2074: Sections 5, 13, 32, 67, 110, 130 govern these stages.

FIR is NOT substantive evidence: It is a procedural document to set the law in motion. It serves to corroborate or contradict the informant's statement later in court.
Police vs. Prosecutor: Police conduct investigation; Public Prosecutors/Government Attorneys initiate the court case.