BNSS Section 150 — Power of certain armed force officers to disperse assembly

Summary

If public safety is clearly in danger from an unlawful assembly and no Executive Magistrate can be reached, a commissioned or gazetted officer of the armed forces can use the forces under their command to break up the assembly. They may also arrest and confine people who are part of the assembly, either to stop the assembly or so that those people can be dealt with according to law. However, if at any point during this action the officer becomes able to contact an Executive Magistrate, they must do so and then follow the Magistrate’s orders about whether to continue or stop their actions.

Official Text

When the public security is manifestly endangered by any such assembly and no Executive Magistrate can be communicated with, any commissioned or gazetted officer of the armed forces may disperse such assembly with the help of the armed forces under his command, and may arrest and confine any persons forming part of it, in order to disperse such assembly or that they may be punished according to law; but if, while he is acting under this section, it becomes practicable for him to communicate with an Executive Magistrate, he shall do so, and shall thenceforward obey the instructions of the Magistrate, as to whether he shall or shall not continue such action.

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.545 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.5 p.730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.7 p.979 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.2 p.1588 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• .. Petitioner/Accused No.12 vs The State of Tamilnadu, — Madras High Court ()
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.8 p.785 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• CrPC §131 — Power of certain armed force officers to disperse assembly