Information of design to commit cognizable offences
Section 169 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with information of design to commit cognizable offences. Every police officer receiving information of a design to commit any cognizable offence shall communicate such information to the police officer to whom he is subordinate, and to any other officer whose duty it is to prevent or take cognizance of the commission of any such offence. The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
Every police officer receiving information of a design to commit any cognizable offence shall communicate such information to the police officer to whom he is subordinate, and to any other officer whose duty it is to prevent or take cognizance of the commission of any such offence.
Section 169, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act 46 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure
CRPC 150 Information of design to commit cognizable offences Text carried over almost unchanged 100%
Measured by comparing the text of the two provisions, not taken from an official correspondence table — there is no machine-readable one. See both texts side by side before relying on it.
Both regimes are live. The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force. We never redirect one to the other.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Gaurav vs State of Hp
Decided under Code of Criminal Procedure 150, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Security proceedings under Sections 107 and 150 CrPC are preventive in nature and do not bar subsequent FIR registration for cognizable offences arising from the same incident. Discharge in security proceedings is not acquittal and does not attract the prohibition of double jeopardy under Section 300 CrPC. A person discharged in preventive proceedings may be prosecuted for criminal offences based on the same facts. The High Court, while exercising jurisdiction under Section 482 CrPC to quash criminal proceedings, should only examine whether allegations prima facie constitute an offence without conducting a mini-trial or appreciating evidence. Contradictions in complaint or complainant statement are not grounds for quashing FIR at threshold stage.
On this section: Procedure for security proceedings - used in conjunction with Section 107
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Vivan Mehra vs State Nct of Delhi
Decided under Code of Criminal Procedure 150, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The High Court will not intervene under Section 482 CrPC in an interim order passed by a magistrate under Section 116(3) CrPC at the show cause stage, particularly when the petitioners have entered appearance, filed a reply, and have not challenged the initiation of proceedings. The magistrate should be allowed to take a final view after considering the material placed by the petitioners and applicable legal principles. However, domestic servants implicated merely as servants of principal parties may be exempted from bond requirements.
On this section: Procedure for recording complaint and initiating inquiry
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Madhu Narang vs Commissioner of Police
Decided under Code of Criminal Procedure 150, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When a preventive detention order is issued by the competent police authority (DCP) under Section 107/150 Cr.P.C., the High Court, in the exercise of its writ jurisdiction, will not interfere with such order unless there are manifest grounds showing abuse of authority, violation of natural justice, or procedural irregularity. The court will allow the preventive detention proceedings to proceed as directed by the police authority.
On this section: Procedure for preventive detention and related proceedings
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 169
What have the courts held on Section 169 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita?
Gaurav vs State of Hp (01 Aug 2024) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under CRPC 150, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Procedure for security proceedings - used in conjunction with Section 107. Another 2 judgments on this section are set out below. They run from 2005 to 2024.
How do I find court cases under Section 169 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: BNSS 169, section 169 BNSS, section 169 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. People searching for it also type 169 bnss in crpc and 169 bnss act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 3 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Gaurav vs State of Hp (01 Aug 2024).
What should I read with Section 169 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and has it changed?
It carries forward CrPC 150 (Information of design to commit cognizable offences), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 169 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita come into force?
Section 169 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, cited as BNSS 169, came into force on 01 Jul 2024, having been enacted on 25 Dec 2023. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 359. Compounding of offences1355 words
- 187. Procedure when investigation cannot be completed in twenty-four hours1122 words
- 2. Definitions956 words
- 243. Trial for more than one offence930 words
- 35. When police may arrest without warrant881 words
- 480. When bail may be taken in case of non-bailable offence823 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.