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

Summary

If public security is clearly endangered by the assembly and no Executive Magistrate can be contacted, a commissioned or gazetted armed-forces officer may use the forces under their command to disperse it. The officer may also arrest and confine people who are part of the assembly so it can be dispersed or they can be punished according to law. If contacting an Executive Magistrate becomes possible while the officer is acting, the officer must do so and then follow the Magistrate’s instructions on whether to continue.

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.

Referred to by

• CrPC §132 — Protection against prosecution for acts done under preceding sections

Old <-> New Code Mapping

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