The Police Act, 1861
An Act for the Regulation of Police.
Administered by. Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Internal Security · Other Acts of 1861
Preamble
THE POLICE ACT, 18611
ACT NO. 5 OF 1861
[22nd March, 1861.] An Act for the Regulation of Police.
Preamble.--WHEREAS it is expedient to re-organise the police and to make it a more efficient instrument for the prevention and detection of crime; It is enacted as follows:--
What this Act covers
Summary of The Police Act, 1861
Key Details
• Title: The Police Act, 1861
• Enactment Date: 22nd March, 1861
• Primary Objective: Regulation of Police to make it a more efficient instrument for the prevention and detection of crime.
Summary Points Derived from Context
1. Interpretation Clause: - Defines key terms such as "Magistrate of the district".
2. Application and Amendments: - Applied To: Various territories and states over time (e.g., Calcutta, Angul District, Orissa, etc.).
• Amended By: Numerous state and central acts (e.g., Calcutta Police Act, 1898; Madras Act, 13 of 1948; etc.).
• Repealed In: Bellary District by Mysore Act 14 of 1955.
Sections
Type to filter. 46 sections.
- 1Interpretation clause
- 2Constitution of the force
- 3Superintendence in the State Government
- 4Inspector-General of Police, etc
- 5Powers of Inspector General Exercise of power
- 6[Repealed.]
- 7Appointment, dismissal, etc., of inferior officers
- 8Certificates to police officers
- 9Police-officers not to resign without leave or two months’ notice
- 10Police-officers not to engage in other employment
- 11[Repealed.]
- 12Power of Inspector-General to make rules
- 13Additional police-officer employed at cost of individuals
- 14Appointment of additional force in the neighbourhood of railway and other works
- 15Quartering of additional police in disturbed or dangerous districts
- 15AAwarding compensation to sufferers from misconduct of inhabitants or persons interested in land
- 16Recovery of moneys payable under sections 13, 14, 15 and 15A, and disposal of same when recovered
- 17Special police-officers
- 18Powers of special police-officers
- 19Refusal to serve as special police-officers
- 20Authority to be exercised by police-officers
- 21Village police-officers
- 22Police-officers always on duty and may be employed in, any part of district
- 23Duties of police-officers
- 24Police-officers may lay information, etc
- 25Police-officers to take charge of unclaimed property, and be subject to Magistrates orders as to disposal
- 26Magistrate may detain property and issue proclamation
- 27Confiscation of property if no claimant appears
- 28Persons refusing to deliver up certificate, etc., on ceasing to be police-officers
- 29Penalties for neglect of duty, etc
- 30Regulation of public assemblies and processions and licensing of the same
- 30APowers with regard to assemblies and processions violating conditions of license
- 31Police to keep order in public roads, etc
- 32Penalty for disobeying orders issued under last three sections, etc
- 33Saving of control of Magistrate of district
- 34Punishment for certain offences on roads, etc
- 35Jurisdiction
- 36Power to prosecute under other law not affected
- 37Recovery of penalties and fines imposed by Magistrates
- 41[Repealed.]
- 42Limitation of actions
- 43Plea that act was done under warrant
- 44Police-officers to keep diary
- 45State Government may prescribe form of returns
- 46Scope of Act
- 47Authority of District Superintendent of Police over village police
Related Acts
- The Indian Penal Code, 1860554 sections
- The Partition of Revenue-paying Estates Act, 186359 sections
- The Madras District Police Act, 185955 sections
- The Waste-Lands (Claims) Act, 186325 sections
- The Bengal Ghatwali Land Act, 18592 sections
- Tobacco Duty (Town of Bombay) Act, 185721 sections
- The Calcutta Land-Revenue Act, 18563 sections
- The Public Gambling Act, 186718 sections
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. Every one of the 46 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.