BNSS Section 103 — Persons in charge of closed place to allow search

Summary

If a place that needs to be searched is locked or closed, the person who lives there or is in charge must let the searching officer enter freely and provide all reasonable help for the search, after the officer shows the search warrant. If entry cannot be gained this way, the officer may follow the procedure described in another part of the law. If anyone near the place is suspected of hiding a searchable item on their body, that person may be searched, and if the person is a woman, the search must be done by another woman with strict decency. Before starting the search, the officer must ask at least two independent and respectable local residents to be witnesses, and may issue a written order requiring them to attend; the search is done in their presence, and a list of seized items is prepared and signed by them, though witnesses are not required to go to court unless specially called. The occupant of the place, or someone on their behalf, is allowed to watch the search, and must receive a signed copy of the list of seized items. If a person is searched, a list of anything taken from them is prepared and a copy given to them. Anyone who, without a good reason, refuses or fails to attend as a witness after receiving a written order is considered to have committed an offence under a specific section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Official Text

(1) Whenever any place liable to search or inspection under this Chapter is closed, any person residing in, or being in charge of, such place, shall, on demand of the officer or other person executing the warrant, and on production of the warrant, allow him free ingress thereto, and afford all reasonable facilities for a search therein.

(2) If ingress into such place cannot be so obtained, the officer or other person executing the warrant may proceed in the manner provided by sub-section (2) of section 44.

(3) Where any person in or about such place is reasonably suspected of concealing about his person any article for which search should be made, such person may be searched and if such person is a woman, the search shall be made by another woman with strict regard to decency.

(4) Before making a search under this Chapter, the officer or other person about to make it shall call upon two or more independent and respectable inhabitants of the locality in which the place to be searched is situate or of any other locality if no such inhabitant of the said locality is available or is willing to be a witness to the search, to attend and witness the search and may issue an order in writing to them or any of them so to do.

(5) The search shall be made in their presence, and a list of all things seized in the course of such search and of the places in which they are respectively found shall be prepared by such officer or other person and signed by such witnesses; but no person witnessing a search under this section shall be required to attend the Court as a witness of the search unless specially summoned by it.

(6) The occupant of the place searched, or some person in his behalf, shall, in every instance, be permitted to attend during the search, and a copy of the list prepared under this section, signed by the said witnesses, shall be delivered to such occupant or person.

(7) When any person is searched under sub-section (3), a list of all things taken possession of shall be prepared, and a copy thereof shall be delivered to such person.

(8) Any person who, without reasonable cause, refuses or neglects to attend and witness a search under this section, when called upon to do so by an order in writing delivered or tendered to him, shall be deemed to have committed an offence under section 222 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023).

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.5 p.730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.545 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.7 p.979 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• .. Petitioner/Accused No.12 vs The State of Tamilnadu, — Madras High Court ()
• SC (2025) Vol.2 p.1588 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.1 p.1469 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• CrPC §100 — Persons in charge of closed place to allow search