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Thursday, 12 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter IV: Powers Of Superior Officers Of Police And Aid To The Magistrates And The Police

Section 31 BNSS: Public when to assist Magistrates and police

Corresponding CrPC
Section 37 CrPC

Bare Act text

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 public property.

Text as enacted in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 46 of 2023), in force from 1 July 2024. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

Obliges every person to assist a Magistrate or police officer who reasonably demands help in taking or preventing the escape of a person the officer may arrest, in preventing or suppressing a breach of the peace, or in preventing injury to public property.

Chapter IV: Powers Of Superior Officers Of Police And Aid To The Magistrates And The Police

  1. 30 Powers of superior officers of police
  2. 31 Public when to assist Magistrates and police
  3. 32 Aid to person, other than police officer, executing warrant
  4. 33 Public to give information of certain offences
  5. 34 Duty of officers employed in connection with affairs of a village to make certain report
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