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CODE OF
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973
NO.2 OF 1974
[25th January, 1974.] An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to
Criminal Procedure.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-fourth Year of the Republic of
India as follows:-
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Chapter |
Title |
Sections |
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Chapter I |
PRELIMINARY |
Sections 1-5 |
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Chapter II |
CONSTITUTION OF CRIMINAL COURTS AND OFFICES |
Sections 6-25 |
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Chapter III |
POWER OF COURTS |
Sections 26-35 |
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Chapter IV |
POWERS OF SUPERIOR OFFICERS OF POLICE |
Sections 36-40 |
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Chapter V |
ARREST OF PERSONS |
Sections 41-60 |
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Chapter VI |
PROCESSES TO COMPEL APPEARANCE |
Sections 61-90 |
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Chapter VII |
PROCESSES TO COMPEL THE PRODUCTION OF THINGS |
Sections 91-105 |
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Chapter VIII |
SECURITY FOR KEEPING THE PEACE AND FOR GOOD BEHAVIOUR
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Sections106-124 |
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Chapter IX |
ORDER FOR MAINTENANCE OF WIVES, CHILDREN AND PARENTS
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Sections125-128 |
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Chapter X |
MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER AND TRANQUILLITY |
Sections129-148 |
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Chapter XI |
PREVENTIVE ACTION OF THE POLICE |
Section 149-153 |
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Chapter XII |
INFORMATION TO THE POLICE AND THEIR POWERS TO INVESTIGATE
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Section 154-176 |
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Chapter XIII |
JURISDICTION OF THE CRIMINAL COURTS IN INQUIRIES AND TRIALS
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Section 177-189 |
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Chapter XIV |
CONDITIONS REQUISITE FOR INITIATION OF PROCEEDING |
Section 190-199 |
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Chapter XV |
COMPLAINTS TO MAGISTRATES |
Section 200-203 |
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Chapter XVI |
COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE MAGISTRATES |
Section 204-210 |
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Chapter XVII |
THE CHARGE |
Section 211-224 |
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Chapter XVIII |
TRIAL BEFORE A COURT OF SESSION |
Section 225-237 |
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Chapter XIX |
TRIAL OF WARRANT-CASES BY MAGISTRATES |
Section 238-250 |
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Chapter XX |
TRIAL OF SUMMONS-CASES BY MAGISTRATES |
Section 251-259 |
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Chapter XXI |
SUMMARY TRIALS |
Section 260-265 |
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Chapter XXII |
ATTENDANCE OF PERSONS CONFINED OR DETAINED IN PRISONS |
Section 266-271 |
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Chapter XXIII |
EVIDENCE IN INQUIRIES AND TRIALS |
Section 272-299 |
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Chapter XXIV |
GENERAL PROVISIONS AS TO INQUIRIES AND TRIALS |
Section 300-327 |
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Chapter XXV |
PROVISIONS AS TO ACCUSED PERSONS OF UNSOUND MIND |
Section 328-339 |
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Chapter XXVI |
PROVISIONS AS TO OFFENCES AFFECTING THE ADMINISTRATION OF
JUSTICE |
Section 340-352 |
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Chapter XXVII |
THE JUDGEMENT |
Section 353-365 |
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Chapter
XXVIII |
SUBMISSION OF DEATH SENTENCES FOR CONFIRMATION |
Section 366-371 |
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Chapter XXIX |
APPEALS |
Section 372-394 |
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Chapter XXX |
REFERENCE AND REVISION |
Section 395-405 |
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Chapter XXXI |
TRANSFER OF CRIMINAL CASES |
Section 406-412 |
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Chapter XXXII |
EXECUTION, SUSPENSION, REMISSION AND COMMUTATION OF SENTENCES |
Section 413-435 |
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Chapter
XXXIII |
PROVISIONS AS TO BAIL AND BONDS |
Section 436-450 |
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Chapter XXXIV |
DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY |
Section 451-459 |
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Chapter XXXV |
IRREGULAR PROCEEDINGS |
Section 460-466 |
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Chapter XXXVI |
LIMITATION FOR TAKING COGNIZANCE OF CERTAIN OFFENCES |
Section 461-473 |
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Chapter
XXXVII |
LIMITATION FOR TAKING COGNIZANCE OF CERTAIN OFFENCES |
Section 474-484 |
CODE OF CRIMINAL
PROCEDURE, 1973
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1.Short title,
extent and commencement-
(1) This Act may be
called the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir:
Provided that the provisions of this Code, other than those relating to
Chapters VIII, X and XI thereof, shall not apply-
(a)to the State of Nagaland,
(b)to the tribal areas,
but the concerned State Government may, by notification, apply such
provisions or any of them to the whole or part of the State of Nagaland or
such tribal areas, as the case may be, with such supplemental, incidental or
consequential modifications, as may be specified in the notification.
Explanation.- In this section, "tribal areas" means the territories which
immediately before the 21st day of January, 1972, were included in the
tribal areas of Assam, as referred to in paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule
to the Constitution, other than those within the local limits of the
municipality of Shillong.
(3) It shall come into force on the 1st day of April, 1974.
2.Definitions- In this Code, unless the context otherwise requires, -
(a)"bailable offence" means an offence which is shown as bailable in the
First Schedule, or which is made bailable by any other law for the time
being in force; and "non-bailable offence" means any other offence;
(b)"charge" includes any head of charge when the charge contains more heads
than one;
(c)"cognizable offence" means an offence for which, and "cognizable case"
means a case in which, a police officer may, in accordance with the First
Schedule or under any other law for the time being in force, arrest without
warrant;
(d)"complaint" means any allegation made orally or in writing to a
Magistrate, with a view to his taking action under this Code, that some
person, whether known or unknown, has committed an offence, but does not
include a police report.
Explanation.- A report made by a police officer in a case which discloses,
after investigation, the commission of a non-cognizable offence shall be
deemed to be a complaint; and the police officer by whom such report is made
shall be deemed to be the complainant;
(e)"High Court" means, -
(i) in relation to any State, the High Court for that State;
(ii) in relation to a Union territory to which the jurisdiction of the High
Court for a State has been extended by law, that High Court;
(iii) in relation to any other Union territory, the highest Court of
criminal appeal for that territory other than the Supreme Court of India;
(f)"Indian" means the territories to which this Code extends;
(g)"inquiry" means every inquiry, other than a trial, conducted under this
Code by a Magistrate or Court;
(h)"investigation" includes all the proceedings under this Code for the
collection of evidence conducted by a police officer or by any person (other
than a Magistrate) who is authorised by a Magistrate in this behalf;
(i)" judicial proceeding" includes any proceeding in the course of which
evidence is or may be legally taken on oath;
(j)"local jurisdiction", in relation to a Court or Magistrate, means the
local area within which the Court or Magistrate may exercise all or any of
its or his powers under this Code;
(k)"metropolitan area" means the area declared, or deemed to be declared,
under section 8, to be a metropolitan area;
(l)"non-cognizable offence" means an offence for which, and "non-cognizable
case" means a case in which, a police officer has no authority to arrest
without warrant;
(m)"notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
(n)"offence" means any act or omission made punishable by any law for the
time being
in force and includes any act in respect of which a complaint may be made
under section 20 of the Cattle-trespass Act, 1871( 1 of 1871);
(o)"officer in charge of a police station" includes, when the officer in
charge of the police station is absent from the station-house or unable from
illness or other cause to perform his duties, the police officer present at
the station-house who is next in rank to such officer and is above the rank
of constable or, when the State Government so directs, any other police
officer so present;
(p)"place" includes a house, building, tent, vehicle and vessel;
(q)"pleader", when used with reference to any proceeding in any Court, means
a person authorised by or under any law for the time being in force, to
practise in such Court, and includes any other person appointed with the
permission of the Court to act in such proceeding;
( r ) " police report" means a report forwarded by a police officer to a
Magistrate under
sub-section (2) of section 173;
(s)"police report" means a report forwarded by a police officer or specially
by the State
Government, to be a police station, and includes any local area specified by
the State Government in this behalf;
(t)"prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Code;
(u)"Public Prosecutor" means any person appointed under section 24, and
includes any person acting under the directions of a Public Prosecutor;
(v)"sub-division" means a sub-division of a district;
(w)"summons-case" means a case relating to an offence, and not being a
warrant-case;
(x)"warrant-case" means a case relating to an offence punishable with death,
imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term exceeding two years;
(y)words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the
Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) have the meanings respectively assigned to
them in that Code.
3.Construction of references-
(1) In this Code
(a) any reference, without any qualifying words, to a Magistrate, shall be
construed, unless the context otherwise requires, -
(i)in relation to an area outside a metropolitan area, as a reference to a
Judicial Magistrate;
(ii)in relation to a metropolitan area, as a reference to a Metropolitan
Magistrate;
(b) any reference to a Magistrate of the second class shall, in relation to
an area outside a metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to a
Judicial Magistrate of the second class, and, in relation to a metropolitan
area, as a reference to a Metropolitan Magistrate;
(c) any reference to a Magistrate of the first class shall, -
(i)in relation to a metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to a
Metropolitan Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in that area,
(ii)in relation to any other area, be construed as a reference to a Judicial
Magistrate of the first class exercising jurisdiction in that area;
(d) any reference to the Chief Judicial Magistrate shall, in relation to a
metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to the Chief Metropolitan
Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in that area.
(2) In this Code, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to
the Court of a Judicial Magistrate shall, in relation to a metropolitan
area, be construed as a reference to the Court of the Metropolitan
Magistrate for that area.
(3) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in any enactment
passed before the commencement of this Code, -
(a) to a Magistrate of the first class, shall be construed as a reference to
a Judicial Magistrate of the first class;
(b) to a Magistrate of the second class or of the third class, shall be
construed as a reference to a Judicial Magistrate of the second class;
(c) to a Presidency Magistrate or Chief Presidency Magistrate, shall be
construed as a reference, respectively, to a Metropolitan Magistrate or the
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate;
(d) to any area which is included in a metropolitan area, as a reference to
such metropolitan area, and any reference to a Magistrate of the first class
or of the second class in relation to such area, shall be construed as
reference to the Metropolitan Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in such
area.
(4) Where, under any law, other than this Code, the function exercisable by
a Magistrate relate to matters-
(a) which involve the appreciation or sifting of evidence or the formulation
of any decision which exposes any person to any punishment or penalty or
detention in custody pending investigation, inquiry or trial or would have
the effect of sending him for trial before any Court,they shall, subject to
the provisions of this Code, be exercisable by a Judicial Magistrate; or
(b) which are administrative or executive in nature, such as, the granting
of a licence, the suspension or cancellation of a licence, sanctioning a
prosecution or withdrawing from a prosecution, they shall, subject as
aforesaid, be exercisable by an Executive Magistrate.
4.Trial of offences under the Indian Penal Code and other laws.-
(1) All offences under the Indian Penal Code(45 of 1860) shall be
investigated, inquired into, tried, and otherwise dealt with according to
the provisions hereinafter contained.
(2) All offences under any other law shall be investigated, inquired into,
tried, and otherwise dealt
with according to the same provisions, but subject to any enactment for the
time being in force
regulating the manner or place of investigating, inquiring into, trying or
otherwise dealing with
such offences.
5.Saving.- Nothing contained in this Code shall, in the absence of a
specific provision to the contrary, affect any special or local law for the
time being in force, or any special jurisdiction or power conferred, or any
special form of procedure prescribed, by any other law for the time being in
force
CHAPTER II
CONSTITUTION OF CRIMINAL COURTS AND OFFICES
6.Classes of
Criminal Courts.-
Besides the High Courts and the Courts constituted under any law, other than
this Code, there shall be, in every State, the following classes of Criminal
Courts, namely:-
(i) Courts of Session;
(ii) Judicial Magistrates of the first class and, in any metropolitan area,
Metropolitan Magistrates;
(iii) Judicial Magistrates of the second class; and
(iv) Executive Magistrates.
7.Territorial divisions.- (1) Every State shall be a sessions
division or shall consist of sessions divisions; and every sessions division
shall, for the purposes of this Code, be a district or consist of districts:
Provided that every metropolitan area shall, for the said purposes, be a
separate sessions division and district.
(2) The State Government may, after consultation with the High Court, alter
the limits or the number of such divisions and districts.
(3) The State Government may, after consultation with the High Court, divide
any district into sub-divisions and may alter the limits or the number of
such sub-divisions.
(4) The sessions divisions, districts and sub-divisions existing in a State
at the commencement of this Code, shall be deemed to have been formed under
this section.
8.Metropolitan areas.- (1) The State Government may, by notification,
declare that , as from such date as may be specified in the notification,
any area in the State comprising a city or town whose population exceeds one
million shall be a metropolitan area for the purposes of this Code.
(2) As from the commencement of this Code, each of the Presidency-towns of
Bombay, Calcutta and Madras and the city of Ahmedabad shall be deemed to be
declared under sub-section (1) to be a metropolitan area.
(3) The State Government may, by notification, extend, reduce or alter the
limits of a metropolitan area but the reduction or alteration shall not be
so made as to reduce the population of such area to less than one million.
(4) Where, after an area has been declared, or deemed to have been declared
to be, a metropolitan area, the population of such area falls below one
million, such area shall, on and from such date as the State Government may,
by notification, specify in this behalf, cease to be a metropolitan area;
but notwithstanding such cesser, any inquiry, trial or appeal pending
immediately before such cesser before any Court or Magistrate in such area
shall continue to be dealt with under this Code, as if such cesser had not
taken place.
(5) Where the State Government reduces or alters, under sub-section (3), the
limits of any metropolitan area, such reduction or alteration shall not
affect any inquiry, trial or appeal pending immediately before such
reduction or alteration before any Court or Magistrate, and every such
inquiry, trial or appeal shall continue to be dealt with under this Code as
if such reduction or alteration had not taken place.
Explanation.- In this section, the expression "population" means the
population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant
figures have been published.
9.Court of Session.- (1)The State Government shall establish a Court
of Session for every sessions division.
(2) Every Court of Session shall be presided over by a Judge, to be
appointed by the High Court.
(3) The High Court may also appoint Additional Sessions Judges and Assistant
Sessions Judges to exercise jurisdiction in a Court of Session.
(4) The Sessions Judge of one sessions division may be appointed by the High
Court to be also an Additional Sessions Judge of another division, and in
such case he may sit for the disposal of cases at such place or places in
the other division as the High Court may direct.
(5) Where the office of the Sessions Judge is vacant, the High Court may
make arrangements for the disposal of any urgent application which is, or
may be, made or pending before such Court of Session by an Additional or
Assistant Sessions Judge, or, if there be no Additional or Assistant
Sessions Judge, by a Chief Judicial Magistrate, in the sessions division;
and every such Judge or Magistrate shall have jurisdiction to deal with any
such application.
(6) The Court of Session shall ordinarily hold its sitting at such place or
places as the High Court may, by notification, specify; but, if, in any
particular case, the Court of Session is of opinion that it will tend to the
general convenience of the parties and witnesses to hold its sittings at any
other place in the sessions division, it may, with the consent of the
prosecution and the accused, sit at that place for the disposal of the case
or the examination of any witness or witnesses therein.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this Code, "appointment" does not include
the first appointment, posting or promotion of a person by the Government to
any Service, or post in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a
State, where under any law, such appointment, posting or promotion is
required to be made by Government.
10.Subordination of Assistant Sessions Judges.- (1) All Assistant
Sessions Judges shall be subordinate to the Sessions Judge in whose Court
they exercise jurisdiction.
(2) The Sessions Judge may, from time to time, make rules consistent with
this Code, as to the distribution of business among such Assistant Sessions
Judges.
(3) The Sessions Judge may also make provision for the disposal of any
urgent application, in the event of his absence or inability to act, by an
Additional or Assistant Sessions Judge, or, if there be no Additional or
Assistant Sessions Judge, by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, and every such
Judge or Magistrate shall be deemed to have jurisdiction to deal with any
such application.
11.Courts of Judicial Magistrates.- (1) In every district (not being
a metropolitan area), there shall be established as many Courts of Judicial
Magistrates of the first class and of the second class, and at such places,
as the State Government may, after consultation with the High Court, by
notification, specify.
(2) The presiding officers of such Courts shall be appointed by the High
Court.
(3) The High Court may, whenever it appears to it to be expedient or
necessary, confer the powers of a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or
of the second class on any member of the Judicial Service of the State,
functioning as a Judge in a Civil Court.
12.Chief Judicial Magistrate and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate,
etc.- (1) In every district (not being a metropolitan area), the High
Court shall appoint a Judicial Magistrate of the first class to be the Chief
Judicial Magistrate.
(2) The High Court may appoint any Judicial Magistrate of the first class to
be an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, and such Magistrate shall have
all or any of the powers of a Chief Judicial Magistrate under this Code or
under any other law for the time being in force as the High Court may
direct.
(3) (a) The High Court may designate any Judicial Magistrate of the first
class in any sub-division as the Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate and
relieve him of the responsibilities specified in this section as occasion
requires.
(b) Subject to the general control of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, every
Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate shall also have and exercise, such powers
of supervision and control over the work of the Judicial Magistrates (other
than Additional Chief Judicial Magistrates) in the sub-division as the High
Court may, by general or special order, specify in this behalf.
13.Special Judicial Magistrates.- (1) The High Court may, if
requested by the Central or State Government so to do, confer upon any
person who holds or has held any post under the Government, all or any of
the powers conferred or conferrable by or under this Code on a Judicial
Magistrate of the second class, in respect to particular cases or to
particular classes of cases or to cases generally, in any district, not
being a metropolitan area:
Provided that no such power shall be conferred on a person unless he
possesses such qualification
or experience in relation to legal affairs as the High Court may, by rules,
specify.
(2) Such Magistrates shall be called Special Judicial Magistrates and shall
be appointed for such
term, not exceeding one year at a time, as the High Court may, by general or
special order, direct.
14.Local jurisdiction of Judicial Magistrates.- (1) Subject to the
control of the High Court, the Chief Judicial Magistrate may, from time to
time, define the local limits of the areas within which the Magistrates
appointed under section 11 or under section 13 may exercise all or any of
the powers with which they may respectively be invested under this Code.
(2) Except as otherwise provided by such definition, the jurisdiction and
powers of every such
Magistrate shall extend throughout the district.
15.Subordination of Judicial Magistrates.- (1) Every Chief Judicial
Magistrate shall be subordinate to the Sessions Judge; and every other
Judicial Magistrate shall, subject to the general control of the Sessions
Judge, be subordinate to the Chief Judicial Magistrate.
(2) The Chief Judicial Magistrate may, from time to time, make rules or give
special orders, consistent with this Code, as to the distribution of
business among the Judicial Magistrates subordinate to him.
16.Courts of Metropolitan Magistrates.- (1) In every metropolitan
area, there shall be established as many Courts of Metropolitan
Magistrates, and at such places, as the State Government may, after
consultation with the High Court, by notification, specify.
(2) The presiding officers of such Courts shall be appointed by the High
Court.
(3) The jurisdiction and powers of every Metropolitan Magistrate shall
extend throughout the
metropolitan area.
17.Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and Additional Chief Metropolitan
Magistrates.- (1) The High Court shall, in relation to every
metropolitan area within its local jurisdiction, appoint a Metropolitan
Magistrate to be the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate for such metropolitan
area.
(2) The High Court may appoint any Metropolitan Magistrate to be an
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, and such Magistrate shall have all
or any of the powers of a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate under this Code or
under any other law for the time being in force as the High Court may
direct.
18.Special Metropolitan Magistrates.- (1) The High Court may, if
requested by the Central or State Government so to do, confer upon any
person who holds or has held any post under the Government, all or any of
the powers conferred or conferrable by or under this Code on a Metropolitan
Magistrate, in respect to particular cases or to particular classes of cases
or to cases generally, in any metropolitan area within its local
jurisdiction:
Provided that no such power shall be conferred on a person unless he
possesses such qualification or experience in relation to legal affairs as
the High Court may, by rules, specify.
(2) Such Magistrates shall be called Special Metropolitan Magistrates and
shall be appointed for such term, not exceeding one year at a time, as the
High Court may, by general or special order, direct.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Code, a Special
Metropolitan Magistrate shall not impose a sentence which a Judicial
Magistrate of the second class is not competent to impose outside the
Metropolitan area.
19.Subordination of Metropolitan Magistrates.- (1) The Chief
Metropolitan Magistrate and every Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate
shall be subordinate to the Sessions Judge; and every other Metropolitan
Magistrate shall, subject to the general control of the Sessions Judge, be
subordinate to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
(2) The High Court may, for the purposes of this Code, define the extent of
the subordination, if any, of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrates
to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
(3) The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate may, from time to time, make rules or
give special orders, consistent with this Code, as to the distribution of
business among the Metropolitan Magistrates and as to the allocation of
business to an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
20.Executive Magistrates.-(1) In every district and in every
metropolitan area, the State Government may appoint as many persons as it
thinks fit to be Executive Magistrates and shall appoint one of them to be
the District Magistrate.
(2) The State Government may appoint any Executive Magistrate to be an
Additional district Magistrate, and such Magistrate shall have all or any of
the powers of a District Magistrate under this Code or under any other law
for the time being in force.
(3) Whenever, in consequence of the office of a District Magistrate becoming
vacant, any officer succeeds temporarily to the executive administration of
the district, such officer shall, pending the orders of the State
Government, exercise all the powers and perform all the duties respectively
conferred and imposed by this Code on the District Magistrate.
(4) The State Government may place an Executive Magistrate in charge of a
sub-division and may relieve him of the charge as occasion requires; and the
Magistrate so placed in charge of a sub-division shall be called the
Sub-divisional Magistrate.
(5) Nothing in this section shall preclude the State Government from
conferring, under any law for the time being in force, on a Commissioner of
Police, all or any of the powers of an Executive Magistrate in relation to a
metropolitan area.
21.Special Executive Magistrates.- The State Government may appoint,
for such term as it may think fit, Executive Magistrates, to be known as
Special Executive Magistrates for particular areas or for the performance of
particular functions and confer on such Special Executive Magistrates such
of the powers as are conferrable under this Code on Executive Magistrates,
as it may deem fit.
22.Local jurisdiction of Executive Magistrates.- (1) Subject to the
control of the State Government, the District Magistrate may, from time to
time, define the local limits of the areas within which the Executive
Magistrates may exercise all or any of the powers with which they may be
invested under this Code.
(2) Except as otherwise provided by such definition, the jurisdiction and
powers of every such Magistrate shall extend throughout the district.
23.Subordination of Executive Magistrates.- (1) All Executive
Magistrates, other than the Additional District Magistrate, shall be
subordinate to the District Magistrate, and every Executive Magistrate
(other than the Sub-divisional Magistrate) exercising powers in a
sub-division shall also be subordinate to the Sub-divisional Magistrate,
subject, however, to the general control of the District Magistrate.
(2) The District Magistrate may, from time to time, make rules or give
special orders, consistent with this Code, as to the distribution of
business among the Executive Magistrates subordinate to him and as to the
allocation of business to an Additional District Magistrate.
24.Public Prosecutors.- (1)For every High Court, the Central
Government or the State Government shall, after consultation with the High
Court, appoint a Public Prosecutor for conducting, in such Court, any
prosecution, appeal or other proceeding on behalf of the Central or State
Government, as the case may be.
(2) For every district the State Government shall appoint a Public
Prosecutor and may also appoint one or more Additional Public Prosecutors
for the district.
(3) The District Magistrate shall, in consultation with the Sessions Judge,
prepare a panel of names of persons who are, in his opinion, fit to be
appointed as the Public Prosecutor or Additional Public Prosecutor for the
district.
(4) No person shall be appointed by the State Government as the Public
Prosecutor or Additional Public Prosecutor for the district unless his name
appears on the panel of names prepared by the District Magistrate under
sub-section (3).
(5) A person shall only be eligible to be appointed as a Public Prosecutor
or an Additional Public Prosecutor under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2),
if he has been in practice as an advocate for not less than seven years.
(6) The Central Government or the State Government may appoint, for the
purposes of any case or class of cases, an advocate who has been in practice
for not less than ten years, as a Special Public Prosecutor.
25.Assistant Public Prosecutors.- (1) The State Government shall
appoint in every district one or more Assistant Public Prosecutors for
conducting prosecutions in the Courts of Magistrates.
(2) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (3), no police officer shall
be eligible to be appointed as an Assistant Public Prosecutor.
(3) Where no Assistant Public Prosecutor is available for the purposes of
any particular case,
the District Magistrate may appoint any other person to be the Assistant
Public Prosecutor in charge of that case:
Provided that a police officer shall not be so appointed-
(a) if he has taken any part in the investigation into the offence with
respect to which the accused is being prosecuted; or
(b) if he is below the rank of Inspector.
CHAPTER III
POWER OF COURTS
26.Courts by which
offences are triable.-
Subject to the other provisions of this Code.-
(a) any offence under the Indian Penal Code(45 of 1860) may be tried by -
(i) (i) the High Court, or
(ii) the Court of Session, or
(iii) any other Court by which such offence is shown in the First Schedule
to be triable;
(b) any offence under any other law shall, when any Court is mentioned in
this behalf in such law, be tried by such Court and when no Court is so
mentioned, may be tried by-
(i) the High Court, or
(ii) any other Court by which such offence is shown in the First Schedule to
be
triable.
27.Jurisdiction in the case of juveniles.- Any offence not punishable
with death or imprisonment for life, committed by any person who at the date
when he appears or is brought before the Court is under the age of sixteen
years, may be tried by the Court of a Chief Judicial Magistrate, or by any
Court specially empowered under the Children Act, 1960,(60 of 1960) or any
other law for the time being in force providing for the treatment, training
and rehabilitation of youthful offenders.
28.Sentences which High Courts and Sessions Judges may pass.- (1) A
High Court may pass any sentence authorised by law.
(2) A Sessions Judge or Additional Sessions Judge may pass any sentence
authorised by law; but any sentence of death passed by any such Judge shall
be subject to confirmation by the High Court.
(3) An Assistant Sessions Judge may pass any sentence authorised by law
except a sentence of death or of imprisonment for life or of imprisonment
for a term exceeding ten years.
29.Sentences which Magistrates may pass.- (1) The Court of a Chief
Judicial Magistrate may pass any sentence authorised by law except a
sentence of death or of imprisonment for life or of imprisonment for a term
exceeding seven years.
(2) The Court of a Magistrate of the first class may pass a sentence of
imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or of fine not exceeding
five thousand rupees, or of both.
(3) The Court of a Magistrate of the second class may pass a sentence of
imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or of fine not exceeding one
thousand rupees, or of both.
(3) The Court of a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate shall have the powers of
the Court of a Chief Judicial Magistrate and that of a Metropolitan
Magistrate, the powers of the Court of a Magistrate of the first class.
30.Sentence of imprisonment in default of fine.- (1) The Court of a
Magistrate may award such term of imprisonment in default of payment of fine
as is authorised by law:
Provided that the term-
(a) is not in excess of the powers of the Magistrate under section 29;
(b) shall not, where imprisonment has been awarded as part of the
substantive sentence, exceed one-fourth of the term of imprisonment which
the Magistrate is competent to inflict as punishment for the offence
otherwise than as imprisonment in default of payment of the fine.
(2) The imprisonment awarded under this section may be in addition to a
substantive sentence of imprisonment for the maximum term awardable by the
Magistrate under section 29.
31.Sentence in cases of conviction of several offences at one trial.-
(1) When a person is convicted at one trial of two or more offences, the
Court may, subject to the provisions of section 71 of the Indian Penal
Code,(45 of 1860) sentence him for such offences, to the several punishments
prescribed therefor which such Court is competent to inflict; such
punishments when consisting of imprisonment to commence the one after the
expiration of the other in such order as the Court may direct, unless the
Court directs that such punishments shall run concurrently.
(2) In the case of consecutive sentences, it shall not be necessary for the
Court by reason only of the aggregate punishment for the several offences
being in excess of the punishment which it is competent to inflict on
conviction of a single offence, to send the offender for trial before a
higher Court:
Provided that-
(a) in no case shall such person be sentenced to imprisonment for a longer
period than fourteen years;
(b) the aggregate punishment shall not exceed twice the amount of punishment
which the Court is competent to inflict for a single offence.
(3) For the purpose of appeal by a convicted person, the aggregate of the
consecutive sentences
passed against him under this section shall be deemed to be a single
sentence.
32.Mode of conferring powers.- (1) In conferring powers under this
Code, the High Court or the State Government, as the case may be, may, by
order, empower persons specially by name or in virtue of their offices or
classes of officials generally by their official titles.
(2) Every such order shall take effect from the date on which it is
communicated to the person so
empowered.
33.Powers of officers appointed.- Whenever any person holding an
office in the service of Government who has been invested by the High Court
or the State Government with any powers under this Code throughout any local
area is appointed to an equal or higher office of the same nature, within a
like local area under the same State Government, he shall, unless the High
Court or the State Government, as the case may be, otherwise directs, or has
otherwise directed, exercise the same powers in the local area in which he
is so appointed.
34.Withdrawal of powers.- (1) The High Court or the State Government,
as the case may be, may withdraw all or any of the powers conferred by it
under this Code on any person or by any officer subordinate to it.
(2) Any powers conferred by the Chief Judicial Magistrate or by the District
Magistrate may be
withdrawn by the respective Magistrate by whom such powers were conferred.
35.Powers of Judges and Magistrates exercisable by their
successors-in-office.- (1) Subject to the other provisions of this Code,
the powers and duties of a Judge or Magistrate may be exercised or performed
by his successor-in-office.
(2) When there is any doubt as to who is the successor-in-office of any
Additional or Assistant Sessions Judge, the Sessions Judge shall determine
by order in writing the Judge who shall, for the purposes of this Code or of
any proceedings or order thereunder, be deemed to be the successor-in-office
of such Additional or Assistant Sessions Judge.
(3) When there is any doubt as to who is the successor-in-office of any
Magistrate, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, or the District Magistrate, as
the case may be, shall determine by order in writing the Magistrate who
shall, for the purpose of this Code or of any proceedings or order
thereunder, be deemed to be the successor-in-office of such Magistrate.
CHAPTER IV
A.- POWERS OF SUPERIOR OFFICERS OF POLICE
36.Powers of
superior officers of police.-
Police officers superior in rank to an officer in charge of a police station
may exercise the same powers, throughout the local area to which they are
appointed, as may be exercised by such officer within the limits of his
station.
B.-AID TO THE MAGISTRATES AND THE POLICE
37.Public when to assist Magistrates and police.- Every person is
bound to assist a Magistrate or police officer reasonably demanding his aid-
(a) in the taking or preventing the escape of any other person whom such
Magistrate or police officer is authorised to arrest; or
(b) in the prevention or suppression of a breach of the peace; or
(c) in the prevention of any injury attempted to be committed to any
railway, canal, telegraph or public property.
38.Aid to person, other than police officer, executing warrant.- When
a warrant is directed to a person other than a police officer, any other
person may aid in the execution of such warrant, if the person to whom the
warrant is directed be near at hand and acting in the execution of the
warrant.
39.Public to give information of certain offences.- (1) Every person,
aware of the commission of , or of the intention of any other person
to commit, any offence punishable under any of the following sections of the
Indian Penal
Code,(45 of 1860) namely:-
(i) sections 121 to 126, both inclusive, and section 130 (that is to say,
offences against the State specified in Chapter VI of the said Code);
(ii) sections 143, 144, 145, 147 and 148 (that is to say, offences against
the public tranquillity specified in Chapter VIII of the said Code);
(iii) sections 161 to 165A, both inclusive (that is to say, offences
relating to illegal gratification);
(iv) sections 272 to 278, both inclusive (that is to say, offences relating
to adulteration of food and drugs, etc.);
(v) sections 302, 303 and 304 (that is to say, offences affecting life);
(vi) section 382 (that is to say, offence of theft after preparation made
for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the
theft);
(vii) sections 392 to 399, both inclusive, and section 402 (that is to say,
offences of robbery and dacoity);
(viii) section 409 (that is to say, offence relating to criminal breach of
trust by public servant, etc.);
(ix) sections 431 to 439, both inclusive (that is to say, offences of
mischief against property);
(x) sections 449 and 450 (that is to say, offence of house-trespass);
(xi) sections 456 to 460, both inclusive (that is to say, offences of
lurking house-trespass); and
(xii) sections 489A to 489E, both inclusive (that is to say, offences
relating to currency notes and bank notes),
shall, in the absence of any reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which
excuse shall lie upon the person so aware, forthwith give information to the
nearest Magistrate or police officer of such commission or intention.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the term "offence" includes any act
committed at any place out of India which would constitute an offence if
committed in India.
40.Duty of officers employed in connection with the affairs of a village
to make certain report.- (1) Every officer employed in connection with
the affairs of a village and every person residing in a village shall
forthwith communicate to the nearest Magistrate or to the officer in charge
of the nearest police station, whichever is nearer, any information which he
may possess respecting-
(a) the permanent or temporary residence of any notorious receiver or vendor
of stolen property in or near such village;
(b) the resort to any place within, or the passage through, such village of
any person whom he knows, or reasonably suspects, to be a thug, robber,
escaped convict or proclaimed offender;
(c) the commission of, or intention to commit, in or near such village any
non-bailable offence or any offence punishable under section 143, section
144, section 145, section 147, or section 148 of the Indian Penal Code(45 of
1860);
(d) the occurrence in or near such village of any sudden or unnatural death
or of any death under suspicious circumstances or the discovery in or near
such village of any corpse or part of a corpse, in circumstances which lead
to a reasonable suspicion that such a death has occurred or the
disappearance from such village of any person in circumstances which lead to
a reasonable suspicion that a non-bailable offence has been committed in
respect of such person;
(e) the commission of, or intention to commit, at any place out of India
near such village any act which, if committed in India, would be an offence
punishable under any of the following sections of the Indian Penal Code,(45
of 1860) namely, 231 to 238 (both inclusive), 302, 304, 382, 392 to 399
(both inclusive), 402, 435, 436, 449, 450, 457 to 460 (both inclusive),
489A, 489B, 489C and 489D;
(f) any matter likely to affect the maintenance of order or the prevention
of crime or the safety of person or property respecting which the District
Magistrate, by general or special order made with the previous sanction of
the State Government, has directed him to communicate information.
(2) In this section, -
(i) "village" includes village-lands;
(ii) the expression "proclaimed offender" includes any person proclaimed as
an offender by any Court or authority in any territory in India to which
this Code does not extend, in respect of any act which if committed in the
territories to which this Code extends, would be an offence punishable under
any of the following sections of the Indian Penal Code,(45 of 1860) namely,
302, 304, 382, 392 to 399 (both inclusive), 402, 435, 436, 449, 450 and 457
to 460 (both inclusive);
(iii) the words "officer employed in connection with the affairs of the
village" means a member of the panchayat of the village and includes the
headman and every officer or other person appointed to perform any function
connected with the administration of the village.
CHAPTER V
ARREST OF PERSONS
41.When police may
arrest without warrant.-
(1) Any police officer may without an order from a Magistrate and without a
warrant, arrest any person-
(a) who has been concerned in any cognizable offence, or against whom a
reasonable complaint has been made, or credible information has been
received, or a reasonable suspicion exists, of his having been so concerned;
or
(b) who has in his possession without lawful excuse, the burden of proving
which excuse shall lie on such person, any implement of house-breaking; or
(c) who has been proclaimed as an offender either under this Code or by
order of the State Government; or
(d) in whose possession anything is found which may reasonably be suspected
to be stolen property and who may reasonably be suspected of having
committed an offence with reference to such thing; or
(e) who obstructs a police officer while in the execution of his duty, or
who has escaped, or attempts to escape, from lawful custody; or
(f) who is reasonably suspected of being a deserter from any of the Armed
Forces of the Union; or
(g) who has been concerned in, or against whom a reasonable complaint has
been made, or credible information has been received, or a reasonable
suspicion exists, of his having been concerned in, any act committed at any
place out of India which, if committed in India, would have been punishable
as an offence, and for which he is, under any law relating to extradition,
or otherwise, liable to be apprehended or detained in custody in India; or
(h) who, being a released convict, commits a breach of any rule made under
sub-section (5) of section 356; or
(I) for whose arrest any requisition, whether written or oral, has been
received from another police officer, provided that the requisition
specifies the person to be arrested and the offence or other cause for which
the arrest is to be made and it appears therefrom that the person might
lawfully be arrested without a warrant by the officer who issued the
requisition.
(2) Any officer in charge of a police station may, in like manner, arrest or
cause to be arrested any person, belonging to one or more of the categories
of persons specified in section 109 or section 110.
42.Arrest on refusal to give name and residence.- (1) When any person
who, in the presence of a police officer, has committed or has been accused
of committing a non-cognizable offence refuses, on demand of such officer,
to give his name and residence or gives a name or residence which such
officer has reason to believe to be false, he may be arrested by such
officer in order that his name or residence may be ascertained.
(2) When the true name and residence of such person have been ascertained,
he shall be released on his executing a bond, with or without sureties, to
appear before a Magistrate if so required:
Provided that, if such person is not resident in India, the bond shall be
secured by a surety or sureties resident in India.
(4) (3) Should the true name and residence of such person not be ascertained
within twenty-four hours from the time of arrest or should he fail to
execute the bond, or, if so required, to furnish sufficient sureties, he
shall forthwith be forwarded to the nearest Magistrate having jurisdiction.
43.Arrest by Private person and procedure on such arrest.- (1) Any
private person may arrest or cause to be arrested any person who in his
presence commits a non-bailable and cognizable offence, or any proclaimed
offender, and, without unnecessary delay, shall make over or cause to be
made over any person so arrested to a police officer, or, in the absence of
a police officer, take such person or cause him to be taken in custody to
the nearest police station.
(2) If there is reason to believe that such person comes under the
provisions of section 41, a police officer shall re-arrest him.
(3) If there is reason to believe that he has committed a non-cognizable
offence, and he refuses on the demand of a police officer to give his name
and residence, or gives a name or residence which such officer has reason to
believe to be false, he shall be dealt with under the provisions of section
42; but if there is no sufficient reason to believe that he has committed
any offence, he shall be at once released.
44.Arrest by Magistrate.- (1) When any offence is committed in the
presence of a Magistrate, whether Executive or Judicial, within his local
jurisdiction, he may himself arrest or order any person to arrest the
offender, and may thereupon, subject to the provisions herein contained as
to bail, commit the offender to custody.
(2) Any Magistrate, whether Executive or Judicial, may at any time arrest or
direct the arrest, in his presence, within his local jurisdiction, of any
person for whose arrest he is competent at the time and in the circumstances
to issue a warrant.
45.Protection of members of the Armed Forces from arrest.- (1)
Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 41 to 44 (both inclusive), no
member of the Armed Forces of the Union shall be arrested for anything done
or purported to be done by him in the discharge of his official duties
except after obtaining the consent of the Central Government.
(2) The State Government may, by notification, direct that the provisions of
sub-section (1) shall apply to such class or category of the members of the
Force charged with the maintenance of public order as may be specified
therein, wherever they may be serving, and thereupon the provisions of that
sub-section shall apply as if for the expression "Central Government"
occurring therein, the expression "State Government" were substituted.
46.Arrest how made.- (1) In making an arrest the police officer or
other person making the same shall actually touch or confine the body of the
person to be arrested, unless there be a submission to the custody by word
or action.
(2) If such person forcibly resists the endeavour to arrest him, or attempts
to evade the arrest, such police officer or other person may use all means
necessary to effect the arrest.
(3) Nothing in this section gives a right to cause the death of a person who
is not accused of an offence punishable with death or with imprisonment for
life.
47.Search of place entered by person sought to be arrested.- (1) If
any person acting under a warrant of arrest, or any police officer having
authority to arrest, has reason to believe that the person to be arrested
has entered into, or is within, any place, any person residing in, or being
in charge of, such place shall, on demand of such person acting as aforesaid
or such police officer, allow him free ingress thereto, and afford all
reasonable facilities for a search therein.
(2) If ingress to such place cannot be obtained under sub-section (1), it
shall be lawful in any case for a person acting under a warrant and in any
case in which a warrant may issue, but cannot be obtained without affording
the person to be arrested an opportunity of escape, for a police officer to
enter such place and search therein, and in order to effect an entrance into
such place, to break open any outer or inner door or window of any house or
place, whether that of the person to be arrested or of any other person, if
after notification of his authority and purpose, and demand of admittance
duly made, he cannot otherwise obtain admittance;
Provided that, if any such place is an apartment in the actual occupancy of
a female (not being the person to be arrested) who, according to custom,
does not appear in public, such person or police officer shall, before
entering such apartment, give notice to such female that she is at liberty
to withdraw and shall afford her every reasonable facility for withdrawing,
and may then break open the apartment and enter it.
(3) Any police officer or other person authorised to make an arrest may
break open any outer or inner door or window of any house or place in order
to liberate himself or any other person who, having lawfully entered for the
purpose of making an arrest, is detained therein.
48.Pursuit of offenders into other jurisdictions.- A police officer
may, for the purpose of arresting without warrant any person whom he is
authorised to arrest, pursue such person into any place in India.
49.No unnecessary restraint.- The Person arrested shall not be
subjected to more restraint than is necessary to prevent his escape.
50.Person arrested to be informed of grounds of arrest and of right to
bail.- (1) Every police officer or other person arresting any person
without warrant shall forthwith communicate to him full particulars of the
offence for which he is arrested or other grounds for such arrest.
(2) Where a police officer arrests without warrant any person other than a
person accused of a non-bailable offence, he shall inform the person
arrested that he is entitled to be released on bail and that he may arrange
for sureties on his behalf.
51.Search of arrested person.- (1) Whenever a person is arrested by a
police officer under a warrant which does not provide for the taking of
bail, or under a warrant which provides for the taking of bail but the
person arrested cannot furnish bail, and
whenever a person is arrested without warrant, or by a private person under
a warrant, and cannot legally be admitted to bail, or is unable to furnish
bail, the officer making the arrest or, when the arrest is made by a private
person, the police officer to whom he makes over the person arrested, may
search such person, and place in safe custody all articles, other, than
necessary wearing-apparel, found upon him and where any article is seized
from the arrested person, a receipt showing the articles taken in possession
by the police officer shall be given to such person.
(2) Whenever it is necessary to cause a female to be searched, the search
shall be made by another female with strict regard to decency.
52.Power to seize offensive weapons.-The officer or other person
making any arrest under this Code may take from the person arrested any
offensive weapons which he has about his person, and shall deliver all
weapons so taken to the Court or officer before which or whom the officer or
person making the arrest is required by this Code to produce the person
arrested.
53.Examination of accused by medical practitioner at the request of
police officer.- (1) When a person is arrested on a charge of committing
an offence of such a nature and alleged to have been committed under such
circumstances that there are reasonable grounds for believing that an
examination of his person will afford evidence as to the commission of an
offence, it shall be lawful for a registered medical practitioner, acting at
the request of a police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector, and for
any person acting in good faith in his aid and under his direction, to make
such an examination of the person arrested as is reasonably necessary in
order to ascertain the facts which may afford such evidence, and to use such
force as is reasonably necessary for that purpose.
(2) Whenever the person of a female is to be examined under this section,
the examination shall be made only by, or under the supervision of, a female
registered medical practitioner.
Explanation.- In this section and in section 54, "registered medical
practitioner" means a medical practitioner who possesses any recognized
medical qualification as defined in clause (h) of section 2 of the Indian
Medical Council Act, 1956,(102 of 1956) and whose name has been entered in a
State Medical Register.
54.Examination of arrested person by medical practitioner at the request
of the arrested person.- When a person who is arrested, whether on a
charge or otherwise, alleges, at the time when he is produced before a
Magistrate or at any time during the period of his detention in custody that
the examination of his body will afford evidence which will disprove the
commission by him of any offence or which will establish the commission by
any other person of any offence against his body, the Magistrate shall, if
requested by the arrested person so to do direct the examination of the body
of such person by a registered medical practitioner unless the Magistrate
considers that the request is made for the purpose of vexation or delay or
for defeating the ends of justice.
55.Procedure when police officer deputes subordinate to arrest without
warrant.- (1) When any officer in charge of a police station or any
police officer making an investigation under Chapter XII requires any
officer subordinate to him to arrest without a warrant (otherwise than in
his presence) any person who may lawfully be arrested without a warrant, he
shall deliver to the officer required to make the arrest an order in
writing, specifying the person to be arrested and the offence or other cause
for which the arrest is to be made and the officer so required shall, before
making the arrest, notify to the person to be arrested the substance of the
order and, if so required by such person, shall show him the order.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall affect the power of a police officer to
arrest a person under section 41.
56.Person arrested to be taken before Magistrate or officer in charge of
police station.- A police officer making an arrest without warrant
shall, without unnecessary delay and subject to the provisions herein
contained as to bail, take or send the person arrested before a Magistrate
having jurisdiction in the case, or before the officer in charge of a police
station.
57.Person arrested not to be detained more than twenty-four hours.-
No police officer shall detail in custody a person arrested without warrant
for a longer period than under all the circumstances of the case is
reasonable, and such period shall not, in the absence of a special order of
a Magistrate under section 167, exceed twenty-four hours exclusive of the
time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the Magistrate's
Court.
58.Police to report apprehensions.- Officers in charge of police
stations shall report to the District Magistrate, or, if he so directs, to
the Sub-divisional Magistrate, the cases of all persons arrested without
warrant, within the limits of their respective stations, whether such
persons have been admitted to bail or otherwise.
59.Discharge of person apprehended.- No person who has been arrested
by a police officer shall be discharged except on his own bond, or on bail,
or under the special order of a Magistrate.
60.Power, on escape, to pursue and retake.-(1) If a person in lawful
custody escapes or is rescued, the person from whose custody he escaped or
was rescued may immediately pursue and arrest him in any place in India.
(2) The provisions of section 47 shall apply to arrests under sub-section
(1) although the person making any such arrest is not acting under a warrant
and is not a police officer having authority to arrest.
CHAPTER VI
PROCESSES TO COMPEL APPEARANCE
A.- Summons
61.Form of summons.- Every summons issued by a Court under this Code
shall be in writing, in duplicate, signed by the presiding officer of such
Court or by such other officer as the High Court may, from time to time, by
rule direct, and shall bear the seal of the Court.
62.Summons how served.- (1) Every summons shall be served by a police
officer, or subject to such rules as the State Government may make in this
behalf, by an officer of the Court issuing it or other public servant.
(2) The summons shall, if practicable, be served personally on the person
summoned, by delivering or tendering to him one of the duplicates of the
summons.
(3) Every person on whom a summons is so served shall, if so required by the
serving officer, sign a receipt therefor on the back of the other duplicate.
63.Service of summons on corporate bodies and societies.- Service of
a summons on a corporation may be effected by serving it on the secretary,
local manager or other principle officer of the corporation, or by letter
sent by registered post, addressed to the chief officer of the corporation
in India, in which case the service shall be deemed to have been effected
when the letter would arrive in ordinary course of post.
Explanation.- In this section, "corporation" means an incorporated company
or other body corporate and includes a society registered under the
Societies Registration Act, 1860.
64.Service when persons summoned cannot be found.- Where the person
summoned cannot, by the exercise of due diligence, be found, the summons may
be served by leaving one of the duplicates for him with some adult male
member of his family residing with him, and the person with whom the summons
is so left shall, if so required by the serving officer, sign a receipt
therefor on the back of the other duplicate.
Explanation.- A servant is not a member of the family within the meaning of
this section.
65.Procedure when service cannot be effected as before provided.- If
service cannot by the exercise of due diligence be effected as provided in
section 62, section 63 or section 64, the serving officer shall affix one of
the duplicates of the summons to some conspicuous part of the house or
homestead in which the person summoned ordinarily resides; and thereupon the
Court, after making such inquiries as it thinks fit, may either declare that
the summons has been duly served or order fresh service in such manner as it
considers proper.
66.Service on Government.- (1) Where the person summoned is in the
active service of the Government, the Court issuing the summons shall
ordinarily sent it in duplicate to the head of the office in which such
person is employed; and such head shall thereupon cause the summons to be
served in the manner provided by section 62, and shall return it to the
Court under his signature with the endorsement required by that section.
(2) Such signature shall be evidence of due service.
67.Service of summons outside local limits.-When a Court desires that
a summons issued by it shall be served at any place outside its local
jurisdiction, it shall ordinarily send such summons in duplicate to a
Magistrate within whose local jurisdiction the person summoned resides, or
is, to be there served.
68.Proof of service in such cases and when serving officer not present.-(1)
When a summons issued by a Court is served outside its local jurisdiction,
and in any case where the officer who has served a summons is not present at
the hearing of the case, an affidavit, purporting to be made before a
Magistrate, that such summons has been served, and a duplicate of the
summons purporting to be endorsed (in the manner provided by section 62 or
section 64) by the person to whom it was delivered or tendered or with whom
it was left, shall be admissible in evidence, and the statements made
therein shall be deemed to be correct unless and until the contrary is
proved.
(2) The affidavit mentioned in this section may be attached to the duplicate
of the summons are returned to the Court.
69.Service of summons on witness by post.- (1) Notwithstanding
anything contained in the preceding sections of this Chapter, a Court
issuing a summons to a witness may, in addition to and simultaneously with
the issue of such summons, direct a copy of the summons to be served by
registered post addressed to the witness at the place where he ordinarily
resides or carries on business or personally works for gain.
(2) When an acknowledgment purporting to be signed by the witness or an
endorsement purporting to be made by a postal employee that the witness
refused to take delivery of the summons has been received, the Court issuing
the summons may declare that the summons has been duly served.
B.- Warrant of arrest
70.Form of warrant of arrest and duration.- (1) Every warrant of
arrest issued by a Court under this Code shall be in writing, signed by the
presiding officer of such Court and shall bear the seal of the Court.
(2) Every such warrant shall remain in force until it is cancelled by the
Court which issued it, or until it is executed.
71.Power to direct security to be taken.- (1) Any Court issuing a
warrant for the arrest of any person may in its discretion direct by
endorsement on the warrant that, if such person executes a bond with
sufficient sureties for his attendance before the Court at a specified time
and thereafter until otherwise directed by the Court, the officer to whom
the warrant is directed shall take such security and shall release such
person from custody.
(2) The endorsement shall state-
(a) the number of sureties;
(b) the amount in which they and the person for whose arrest the warrant is
issued, are be respectively bound;
(c) the time at which he is to attend before the Court.
(3) Whenever security is taken under this section, the officer to whom the
warrant is directed shall forward the bond to the Court.
72.Warrants to whom directed.- (1) A warrant of arrest shall
ordinarily be directed to one or more police officers; but the Court issuing
such a warrant may, if its immediate execution is necessary and no police
officer is immediately available, direct it to any other person or persons,
and such person or persons shall execute the same.
(2) When a warrant is directed to more officers or persons than one, it may
be executed by all, or by any one or more of them.
73.Warrant may be directed to any person.- (1) The Chief Judicial
Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class may direct a warrant to any
person within his local jurisdiction for the arrest of any escaped convict,
proclaimed offender or of any person who is accused of a non-bailable
offence and is evading arrest.
(2) Such person shall acknowledge in writing the receipt of the warrant, and
shall execute it if the person for whose arrest it was issued, is in, or
enters on, any land or other property under his charge.
(3) When the person against whom such warrant is issued is arrested, he
shall be made over with the warrant to the nearest police officer, who shall
cause him to be taken before a Magistrate having jurisdiction in the case,
unless security is taken under section 71.
74.Warrant directed to police officer.- A warrant directed to any
police officer may also be executed by any other police officer whose name
is endorsed upon the warrant by the officer to whom it is directed or
endorsed.
75.Notification of substance of warrant.-The police officer or other
person executing a warrant of arrest shall notify the substance thereof to
the person to be arrested, and, if so required, shall show him the warrant.
76.Person arrested to be brought before Court without delay.- The
police officer or other person executing a warrant of arrest shall (subject
to the provisions of section 71 as to security) without unnecessary delay
bring the person arrested before the Court before which he is required by
law to produce such person:
Provided that such delay shall not, in any case, exceed twenty-four hours
exclusive of the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to
the Magistrate's Court.
77.Where warrant may be executed.- A warrant of arrest may be
executed at any place in India.
78.Warrant forwarded for execution outside jurisdiction.- (1) When a
warrant is to be executed outside the local jurisdiction of the Court
issuing it, such Court may, instead of directing the warrant to a police
officer within its jurisdiction, forward it by post or otherwise to any
Executive Magistrate or District Superintendent of Police or Commissioner of
Police within the local limits of whose jurisdiction it is to be executed;
and the Executive Magistrate or District Superintendent or Commissioner
shall endorse his name thereon, and if practicable, cause it to be executed
in the manner herein before provided.
(2) The Court issuing a warrant under sub-section (1) shall forward, along
with the warrant, the substance of the information against the person to be
arrested together with such documents, if any, as may be sufficient to
enable the Court acting under section 81 to decide whether bail should or
should not be granted to the person.
79.Warrant directed to police officer for execution outside jurisdiction.-
(1) When a warrant directed to a police officer is to be executed beyond the
local jurisdiction of the Court issuing the same, he shall ordinarily take
it for endorsement either to an Executive Magistrate or to a police officer
not below the rank of an officer in charge of a police station, within the
local limits of whose jurisdiction the warrant is to be executed.
(2) Such Magistrate or police officer shall endorse his name thereon and
such endorsement shall be sufficient authority to the police officer to whom
the warrant is directed to execute the same, and the local police shall, if
so required, assist such officer in executing such warrant.
(3)Whenever there is reason to believe that the delay occasioned by
obtaining the endorsement of the Magistrate or police officer within whose
local jurisdiction the warrant is to be executed will prevent such
execution, the police officer to whom it is directed may execute the same
without such endorsement in any place beyond the local jurisdiction of the
Court which issued it.
80.Procedure on arrest of person against whom warrant issued.- When a
warrant of arrest is executed outside the district in which it was issued,
the person arrested shall, unless the Court which issued the warrant is
within thirty kilometres of the place of arrest or is nearer than the
Executive Magistrate or District Superintendent of Police or Commissioner of
Police within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the arrest was made, or
unless security is taken under section 71, be taken before such Magistrate
or District Superintendent or Commissioner.
81.Procedure by Magistrate before whom such person arrested is brought.-
(1) The Executive Magistrate or District Superintendent of Police or
Commissioner of Police shall, if the person arrested appears to be the
person intended by the Court which issued the warrant, direct his removal in
custody to such Court:
Provided that, if the offence is bailable, and such person is already and
willing to give bail to the satisfaction of such Magistrate, District
Superintendent or Commissioner, or a direction has been endorsed under
section 71 on the warrant and such person is ready and willing to give the
security required by such direction, the Magistrate, District Superintendent
or Commissioner shall take such bail or security, as the case may be, and
forward the bond, to the Court which issued the warrant:
Provided further that if the offence is a non-bailable one, it shall be
lawful for the Chief Judicial Magistrate (subject to the provisions of
section 437), or the Sessions Judge, of the district in which the arrest is
made on consideration of the information and the documents referred to in
sub-section (2) of section 78, to release such person on bail.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent a police officer from
taking security under section 71.
C.- Proclamation and attachment
82.Proclamation for person absconding.- (1) If any Court has reason
to believe (whether after taking evidence or not) that any person against
whom a warrant has been issued by it has absconded or is concealing himself
so that such warrant cannot be executed, such Court may public a written
proclamation requiring him to appear at a specified place and at a specified
time not less than thirty days from the date of publishing such
proclamation.
(2) The proclamation shall be published as follows:-
(i) (a) it shall be publicly read in some conspicuous place of the town or
village in which such person ordinarily resides;
(b) it shall be affixed to some conspicuous part of the house or homestead
in which such
person ordinarily resides or to some conspicuous place of such town or
village;
(c) a copy thereof shall be affixed to some conspicuous part of the
Court-house;
(ii) the Court may also, if it thinks fit, direct a copy of the proclamation
to be published in a daily newspaper circulating in the place in which such
person ordinarily resides.
(3) A statement in writing by the Court issuing the proclamation to the
effect that the proclamation was duly published on a specified day, in the
manner specified in clause (I) of sub-section (2), shall be conclusive
evidence that the requirements of this section have been complied with, and
that the proclamation was published on such day.
83.Attachment of property of person absconding.- (1) The Court
issuing a proclamation under section 82 may, for reasons to be recorded in
writing, at any time after the issue of the proclamation, order the
attachment of any property, movable or immovable, or both, belonging to the
proclaimed person:
Provided that where at the time of the issue of the proclamation the Court
is satisfied, by affidavit or otherwise that the person in relation to whom
the proclamation is to be issued, -
(a) is about to dispose of the whole or any part of his property, or
(b) is about to remove the whole or any part of his property from the local
jurisdiction
of the Court,
it may order the attachment simultaneously with the issue of the
proclamation.
(2) Such order shall authorise the attachment of any property belonging to
such person within the district in which it is made; and it shall authorise
the attachment of any property belonging to such person without such
district when endorsed by the District Magistrate within whose district such
property is situate.
(3) If the property ordered to be attached is a debt or other movable
property, the attachment under this section shall be made-
(a) by seizure; or
(b) by the appointment of a receiver; or
(c) by an order in writing prohibiting the delivery of such property to the
proclaimed person or to any one on his behalf; on
(d) by all or any two of such methods, as the Court thinks fit.
(4) If the property ordered to be attached is immovable, the attachment
under this section shall, in the case of land paying revenue to the State
Government, be made through the Collector of the district in which the land
is situate, and in all other cases-
(a) by taking possession; or
(b) by the appointment of a receiver; or
(c) by an order in writing prohibiting the payment of rent on delivery of
property to
the proclaimed person or to any one on his behalf; or
(d) by all or any two of such methods, as the Court thinks fit.
(5) If the property ordered to be attached consists of live-stock or is of a
perishable nature, the Court may, if it thinks it expedient, order immediate
sale thereof, and in such case the proceeds of the sale shall abide the
order of the Court.
(6) The powers, duties and liabilities of a receiver appointed under this
section shall be the same as those of a receiver appointed under the Code of
Civil Procedure, 1908(5 of 1908).
84.Claims and objections to attachment.- (1) If any claim is
preferred to, or objection made to the attachment of, any property attached
under section 83, within six months from the date of such attachment, by any
person other than the proclaimed person, on the ground that the claimant or
objector has an interest in such property, and that such interest is not
liable to attachment under section 83, the claim or objection shall be
inquired into, and may be allowed or disallowed in whole or in part:
Provided that any claim preferred or objection made within the period
allowed by this sub-section may, in the event of the death of the claimant
or objector, be continued by his legal representative.
(2) Claims or objections under sub-section (1) may be preferred or made in
the Court by which the order of attachment is issued, or, if the claim or
objection is in respect of property attached under an order endorsed under
sub-section (2) of section 83, in the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate
of the district in which the attachment is made.
(3) Every such claim or objection shall be inquired into by the Court in
which it is preferred or made:
Provided that, if it is preferred or made in the Court of a Chief Judicial
Magistrate, he may make it over for disposal to any Magistrate subordinate
to him.
(4) Any person whose claim or objection has been disallowed in whole or in
part by an order under sub-section (1) may, within a period of one year from
the date of such order, institute a suit to establish the right which he
claims in respect of the property in dispute; but subject to the result of
such suit, if any, the order shall be conclusive.
85.Release, sale and restoration of attached property.-(1) If the
proclaimed person appears within the time specified in the proclamation, the
Court shall make an order releasing the property from the attachment.
(2) If the proclaimed person does not appear within the time specified in
the proclamation, the property under the attachment shall be at the disposal
of the State Government; but it shall not be sold until the expiration of
six months from the date of the attachment and until any claim preferred or
objection made under section 84 has been disposed of under that section,
unless it is subject to speedy and natural decay, or the Court considers
that the sale would be for the benefit of the owner; in either of which
cases the Court may cause it to be sold whenever it thinks fit.
(3) If, within two years from the date of the attachment, any person whose
property is or has been at the disposal of the State Government, under
sub-section (2), appears voluntarily or is apprehended and brought before
the Court by whose order the property was attached, or the Court to which
such Court is subordinate, and proves to the satisfaction of such Court that
he did not abscond or conceal himself for the purpose of avoiding execution
of the warrant, and that he had not such notice of the proclamation as to
enable him to attend within the time specified therein such property, or, if
the same has been sold, the net proceeds of the sale, or, if part only
thereof has been sold, the net proceeds of the sale, and the residue of the
property, shall, after satisfying therefrom all costs incurred in
consequence of the attachment, be delivered to him.
86.Appeal from order rejecting application for restoration of attached
property.- Any person referred to in sub-section (3) of section 85, who
is aggrieved by any refusal to deliver property or the proceeds of the sale
thereof may appeal to the Court to which appeals ordinarily lie from the
sentences of the first-mentioned Court.
D.- Other rules regarding processes
87.Issue of warrant in lieu of, or in addition to, summons.- A Court
may, in any case in which it is empowered by this Code to issue a summons
for the appearance of any person, issue, after recording its reasons in
writing, a warrant for his arrest-
(a) if, either before the issue of such summons, or after the issue of the
same but before the time fixed for his appearance, the Court sees reason to
believe that he has absconded or will not obey the summons; or
(b) if at such time he fails to appear and the summons is proved to have
been duly served in time to admit of his appearing in accordance therewith
and no reasonable excuse is offered for such failure.
88.Power to take bond for appearance.- When any person for whose
appearance or arrest the officer presiding in any Court is empowered to
issue a summons or warrant, is present in such Court, such officer may
require such person to execute a bond, with or without sureties, for his
appearance in such Court, or any other Court to which the case may be
transferred for trial.
89.Arrest on breach of bond for appearance.- When any person who is
bound by any bond taken under this Code to appear before a Court, does not
appear, the officer presiding in such Court may issue a warrant directing
that such person be arrested and produced before him.
90.Provisions of this Chapter generally applicable to summonses and
warrants of arrest.- The provisions contained in this Chapter relating
to a summons and warrant, and their issue, service and execution, shall, so
far as may be, apply to every summons and every warrant of arrest issued
under this Code.
CHAPTER VII
PROCESSES TO COMPEL THE PRODUCTION OF THINGS
A.- Summons to
produce
91.Summons to produce document or other thing.-
(1) Whenever any Court or any officer in charge of a police station
considers that the production of any document or other thing is necessary or
desirable for the purposes of any investigation, inquiry, trial or other
proceeding under this Code by or before such Court or officer, such Court
may issue a summons, or such officer a written order, to the person in whose
possession or power such document or thing is believed to be, requiring him
to attend and produce it, or to produce it, at the time and place stated in
the summons or order.
(2) Any person required under this section merely to produce a document or
other thing shall be deemed to have complied with the requisition if he
causes such document or thing to be produced instead of attending personally
to produce the same.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be deemed-
(a) to affect sections 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872,(1 of
1872) or the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891,(13 of 1891) or
(b) to apply to a letter, postcard, telegram, or other document or any
parcel or thing in the custody of the postal or telegraph authority.
92.Procedure as to letters and telegrams.-(1) If any document, parcel
or thing in the custody of a postal or telegraph authority is, in the
opinion of the District Magistrate, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Court of
Session or High Court wanted for the purpose of any investigation, inquiry,
trial or other proceeding under this Code, such Magistrate or Court may
require the postal or telegraph authority, as the case may be, to deliver
the document, parcel or thing to such person as the Magistrate or Court
directs.
(2) If any such document, parcel or thing is, in the opinion of any other
Magistrate, whether Executive or Judicial, or of any Commissioner of Police
or District Superintendent of Police, wanted for any such purpose, he may
require the postal or telegraph authority, as the case may be, to cause
search to be made for and to detain such document, parcel or thing pending
the order of a District Magistrate, Chief Judicial Magistrate or Court under
sub-section (1).
B.- Search-warrants
93.When search warrant may be issued.- (1) (a) Where any Court has
reason to believe that a person to whom a summons or order under section 91
or a requisition under sub-section (1) of section 92 has been, or might be,
addressed, will not or would not produce the document or thing as required
by such summons or requisition, or
(b) where such document or thing is not known to the Court to be in the
possession of any person, or
(c) where the Court considers that the purposes of any inquiry, trial or
other proceeding under this Code will be served by a general search or
inspection,
it may issue a search-warrant; and the person to whom such warrant is
directed, may search or inspect in accordance therewith and the provisions
hereinafter contained.
(2) The Court may, if it thinks fit, specify in the warrant the particular
place or part thereof to which only the search or inspection shall extend;
and the person charged with the execution of such warrant shall then search
or inspect only the place or part so specified.
(3) Nothing contained in this section shall authorise any Magistrate other
than a District Magistrate or Chief Judicial Magistrate to grant a warrant
to search for a document, parcel or other thing in the custody of the postal
or telegraph authority.
94.Search of place suspected to contain stolen property forged documents
etc.- (1) If a 'District Magistrate, Sub-divisional Magistrate or
Magistrate of the first class, upon information and after such inquiry as he
thinks necessary, has reason to believe that any place is used for the
deposit or sale of stolen property, or for the deposit, sale or production
of any objectionable article to which this section applies, or that any such
objectionable article is deposited in any place, he may by warrant authorise
any police officer above the rank of a constable-
(a) to enter, with such assistance as may be required, such place,
(b) to search the same in the manner specified in the warrant,
(c) to take possession of any property or article therein found which he
reasonably
suspects to be stolen property or objectionable article to which this
section applies,
(d) to convey such property or article before a Magistrate, or to guard the
same on the
spot until the offender is taken before a Magistrate, or otherwise to
dispose of it in
some place of safety,
(e) to take into custody and carry before a Magistrate every person found in
such
place who appears to have been privy to the deposit, sale or production of
any such
property or article knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect it to be
stolen
property or, as the case may be, objectionable article to which this section
applies.
(2) The objectionable articles to which this section applies are -
(a) counterfeit coin;
(b) pieces of metal made in contravention of the Metal Tokens Act, 1889,(1
of 1899) or brought into India in contravention of any notification for the
time being in force under section 11 of the Customs Act, 1962(52 of 1962);
(c) counterfeit currency note; counterfeit stamps;
(d) forged documents;
(e) false seals;
(f) obscene objects referred to in section 292 of the Indian Penal Code(45
of 1860);
(g) instruments or materials used for the production of any of the articles
mentioned
in clauses (a) to (f).
95.Power to declare certain publications forfeited and to issue
search-warrants for the same.- (1) Where -
(a) any newspaper, or book, or
(b) any document,
wherever printed, appears to the State Government to contain any matter the
publication of which is punishable under section 124A or section 153A or
section 153B or section 292 or section 293 or section 295A of the Indian
Penal Code, the State Government may, by notification, stating the grounds
of its opinion, declare every copy of the issue of the newspaper containing
such matter, and every copy of such book or other document to be forfeited
to Government, and thereupon any police officer may seize the same wherever
found in India and any Magistrate may by warrant authorise any police
officer not below the rank of sub-inspector to enter upon and search for the
same in any premises where any copy of such issue or any such book or other
document may be or may be reasonably suspected to be.
(2) In this section and in section 96, -
(a) "newspaper" and "book" have the same meaning as in the Press and
Registration of
Books Act, 1867(25 of 1867);
(b) "document" includes any painting, drawing or photograph, or other
visible
representation.
(3) No order passed or action taken under this section shall be called in
question in any Court otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of
section 96.
96.Application to High Court to set aside declaration of forfeiture.-
(1) Any person having any interest in any newspaper, book or other document,
in respect of which a declaration of forfeiture has been made under section
95, may, within two months from the date of publication in the Official
Gazette of such declaration, apply to the High Court to set aside such
declaration on the ground that the issue of the newspaper, or the book or
other document, in respect of which the declaration was made, did not
contain any such matter as is referred to in sub-section (1) of section 95.
(2) Every such application shall, where the High Court consists of three or
more Judges, be heard and determined by a Special Bench of the High Court
composed of three Judges and where the High Court consists of |