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Section37
The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Public when to assist Magistrates and police

Repealed From 01 Apr 1974 Act 2 of 1974 As on 17 Oct 2026

Act 2 of 1974 Ministry Home Affairs Enacted 25 Jan 1974 In force 01 Apr 1974

This provision is repealed. Repealed by section 531 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (46 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024. It is reproduced because conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under it.

Section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with 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; The Act came into force on 01 Apr 1974. Repealed by section 531 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (46 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under it.

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.

Section 37, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act 2 of 1974).

Now in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita

BNSS 31 Public when to assist Magistrates and police Text carried over almost unchanged 95%

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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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.

Questions about Section 37

What does Section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure deal with?

Section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is headed "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;

How do I find court cases under Section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure?

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: CRPC 37, section 37 CRPC, section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and has it changed?

For anything done on or after 1 July 2024 the provision to read is BNSS 31 (Public when to assist Magistrates and police), which replaced it; conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under this section.

When did Section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure come into force?

Section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, cited as CRPC 37, came into force on 01 Apr 1974, having been enacted on 25 Jan 1974. It is no longer in force.

Other sections of this Act

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. Recovered from the consolidated text published by India Code (item 330a1099-77ad-4a2e-b22a-769b33398f9e). This page is not a substitute for legal advice.