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BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA (BNSS)

Section 35(1)-(2) BNSSWhen police may arrest without warrant

Explained in Simple English & Hindi with Real-Life Examples

Original Text

35. When police may arrest without warrant. (1) Any police officer may without an order from a Magistrate and without a warrant, arrest any person (a) who commits, in the presence of a police officer, a cognizable offence; or (b) against whom a reasonable complaint has been made, or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be less than seven years or which may extend to seven years whether with or without fine, if the following conditions are satisfied, namely: (i) the police officer has reason to believe on the basis of such complaint, information, or suspicion that such person has committed the said offence; (ii) the police officer is satisfied that such arrest is necessary— (a) to prevent such person from committing any further offence; or (b) for proper investigation of the offence; or (c) to prevent such person from causing the evidence of the offence to disappear or tampering with such evidence in any manner; or (d) to prevent such person from making any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to the police officer; or (e) as unless such person is arrested, his presence in the Court whenever required cannot be ensured, and the police officer shall record while making such arrest, his reasons in writing: Provided that a police officer shall, in all cases where the arrest of a person is not required under the provisions of this sub- section, record the reasons in writing for not making the arrest; or (c) against whom credible information has been received that he has committed a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to more than seven years whether with or without fine or with death sentence and the police officer has reason to believe on the basis of that information that such person has committed the said offence; or (d) who has been proclaimed as an offender either under this Sanhita or by order of the State Government; or (e) in whose possession anything is found which may reasonably be suspected to be stolen property and who may reasonably be suspected of having committed an offence with reference to such thing; or (f) who obstructs a police officer while in the execution of his duty, or who has escaped, or attempts to escape, from lawful custody; or (g) who is reasonably suspected of being a deserter from any of the Armed Forces of the Union; or (h) who has been concerned in, or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made, or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists, of his having been concerned in, any act committed at any place out of India which, if committed in India, would have been punishable as an offence, and for which he is, under any law relating to extradition, or otherwise, liable to be apprehended or detained in custody in India; or (i) who, being a released convict, commits a breach of any rule made under sub- section (5) of section 394; or (j) for whose arrest any requisition, whether written or oral, has been received from another police officer, provided that the requisition specifies the person to be arrested and the offence or other cause for which the arrest is to be made and it appears therefrom that the person might lawfully be arrested without a warrant by the officer who issued the requisition. (2) Subject to the provisions of section 39, no person concerned in a non- cognizable offence or against whom a complaint has been made or credible information has been received or reasonable suspicion exists of his having so concerned, shall be arrested except under a warrant or order of a Magistrate.

In Simple Words (English)

This section gives police officers the power to arrest a person without a warrant from a Magistrate in certain situations. This power is not unlimited - it only applies to cognizable offences (serious crimes where police can arrest without warrant). The police officer can arrest someone immediately if they commit a cognizable offence right in front of the officer.

For less serious cognizable offences (punishable with less than 7 years imprisonment), the police officer must be satisfied that arrest is necessary for specific reasons. These reasons include: preventing further offences, proper investigation, preventing tampering with evidence, preventing witness intimidation, or ensuring the person appears in court. The officer must record their reasons for making the arrest in writing. If they decide not to arrest, they must also record why.

For more serious offences (punishable with more than 7 years, life imprisonment, or death), the police can arrest based on credible information. BNSS has added important safeguards: for offences punishable with less than 3 years imprisonment, if the person is infirm or above 60 years of age, arrest requires prior permission of an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. Also, BNSS introduces a notice system - for less serious cognizable offences, the police may issue a notice asking the person to appear instead of arresting them immediately.

In simple words, this section balances the need for police to arrest criminals with protecting ordinary citizens from unnecessary arrest. For minor cases, police must consider if arrest is really needed. For elderly or sick people, extra permission is required. The BNSS has made these protections stronger, emphasizing that arrest should not be automatic and that notice can be issued instead of arrest.

Real-Life Example

Example 1: A police officer in Delhi saw a man snatch a woman's purse. This is a cognizable offence committed in the officer's presence. Under Section 41/35(1)(a), the officer arrested him immediately without a warrant.

Example 2: A police officer in Mumbai received credible information that a person had committed a theft punishable with 3 years imprisonment. Under Section 41(1)(b)/35(1)(b), before arresting, the officer recorded reasons that arrest was necessary to prevent tampering with evidence, then made the arrest.

Example 3: In Lucknow, police received information about a murder (punishable with life imprisonment). Under Section 41(1)(ba)/35(1)(c), they arrested the suspect without needing to record additional justification, as serious offences allow direct arrest.

Example 4: A 65-year-old man in Chennai was accused of a minor cognizable offence punishable with 2 years imprisonment. Under BNSS Section 35(7), the police officer could not arrest him without prior permission from a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who directed that a notice be issued instead.

Example 5: In Kolkata, a person had been proclaimed as an offender by court order for escaping from custody. A police officer saw him and arrested him without warrant under Section 41(1)(c)/35(1)(d).

Example 6: A police officer in Patna found a person in possession of stolen jewellery worth ₹2 lakh with reasonable suspicion of theft. Under Section 41(1)(d)/35(1)(e), the officer arrested him without warrant.

Example 7: In Bengaluru, a person was released from prison on parole but violated the conditions of release. Under Section 41(1)(h)/35(1)(i) (BNSS refers to section 394), a police officer arrested him without warrant for breach of rules.

Example 8: A police officer in Jaipur received a requisition from another police officer to arrest a person who had committed a cognizable offence in another district. Under Section 41(1)(i)/35(1)(j), the officer arrested the person without warrant.

Example 9: Under BNSS Section 35(3)-(5), a police officer in Hyderabad issued a notice to a person accused of a cognizable offence punishable with 4 years imprisonment to appear at the police station. The person complied, so he was not arrested and the notice was sufficient.

Example 10: A 70-year-old woman in Ahmedabad was suspected of a non-violent cognizable offence punishable with 2 years imprisonment. Under BNSS Section 35(7), the police obtained permission from a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who directed that due to her age and infirmity, only a notice should be issued, not an arrest.

सरल हिंदी में

यह धारा पुलिस अधिकारियों को कुछ स्थितियों में मजिस्ट्रेट के वारंट के बिना किसी व्यक्ति को गिरफ्तार करने की शक्ति देती है। यह शक्ति असीमित नहीं है - यह केवल संज्ञेय अपराधों (गंभीर अपराध जहाँ पुलिस बिना वारंट के गिरफ्तार कर सकती है) पर लागू होती है। पुलिस अधिकारी तुरंत किसी को गिरफ्तार कर सकता है यदि वे उसके सामने संज्ञेय अपराध करते हैं।

कम गंभीर संज्ञेय अपराधों (7 साल से कम कारावास की सजा वाले) के लिए, पुलिस अधिकारी को संतुष्ट होना चाहिए कि गिरफ्तारी विशिष्ट कारणों से आवश्यक है। इन कारणों में शामिल हैं: आगे के अपराधों को रोकना, उचित जांच, साक्ष्यों के साथ छेड़छाड़ को रोकना, गवाहों को डराने-धमकाने से रोकना, या यह सुनिश्चित करना कि व्यक्ति अदालत में पेश हो। अधिकारी को गिरफ्तारी करते समय अपने कारण लिखने होंगे। यदि वे गिरफ्तार नहीं करने का निर्णय लेते हैं, तो उन्हें भी कारण लिखने होंगे।

अधिक गंभीर अपराधों (7 साल से अधिक, आजीवन कारावास, या मौत की सजा वाले) के लिए, पुलिस विश्वसनीय जानकारी के आधार पर गिरफ्तार कर सकती है। BNSS ने महत्वपूर्ण सुरक्षा उपाय जोड़े हैं: 3 साल से कम कारावास की सजा वाले अपराधों के लिए, यदि व्यक्ति बीमार या 60 वर्ष से अधिक आयु का है, तो गिरफ्तारी के लिए अपर पुलिस अधीक्षक से कम रैंक के अधिकारी की पूर्व अनुमति आवश्यक है। साथ ही, BNSS एक नोटिस प्रणाली शुरू करता है - कम गंभीर संज्ञेय अपराधों के लिए, पुलिस तुरंत गिरफ्तारी के बजाय व्यक्ति को पेश होने का नोटिस जारी कर सकती है।

सीधी भाषा में कहें तो यह धारा अपराधियों को गिरफ्तार करने की पुलिस की आवश्यकता और साधारण नागरिकों को अनावश्यक गिरफ्तारी से बचाने के बीच संतुलन बनाती है। छोटे मामलों के लिए, पुलिस को विचार करना होगा कि क्या गिरफ्तारी वास्तव में आवश्यक है। बुजुर्ग या बीमार लोगों के लिए, अतिरिक्त अनुमति की आवश्यकता होती है। BNSS ने इन सुरक्षा उपायों को मजबूत किया है, इस बात पर जोर देते हुए कि गिरफ्तारी स्वचालित नहीं होनी चाहिए और गिरफ्तारी के बजाय नोटिस जारी किया जा सकता है।

वास्तविक जीवन के उदाहरण (हिंदी)

उदाहरण 1: दिल्ली में एक पुलिस अधिकारी ने एक व्यक्ति को एक महिला का पर्स छीनते देखा। यह अधिकारी की उपस्थिति में किया गया संज्ञेय अपराध था। धारा 41/35(1)(a) के तहत, अधिकारी ने उसे बिना वारंट के तुरंत गिरफ्तार कर लिया।

उदाहरण 2: मुंबई में एक पुलिस अधिकारी को विश्वसनीय सूचना मिली कि एक व्यक्ति ने 3 वर्ष के कारावास से दंडनीय चोरी की थी। धारा 41(1)(b)/35(1)(b) के तहत, गिरफ्तारी से पहले, अधिकारी ने कारण लिखे कि साक्ष्यों के साथ छेड़छाड़ को रोकने के लिए गिरफ्तारी आवश्यक थी, फिर गिरफ्तारी की।

उदाहरण 3: लखनऊ में, पुलिस को हत्या (आजीवन कारावास की सजा) के बारे में सूचना मिली। धारा 41(1)(ba)/35(1)(c) के तहत, उन्होंने अतिरिक्त औचित्य रिकॉर्ड करने की आवश्यकता के बिना संदिग्ध को गिरफ्तार कर लिया, क्योंकि गंभीर अपराध प्रत्यक्ष गिरफ्तारी की अनुमति देते हैं।

उदाहरण 4: चेन्नई में एक 65 वर्षीय व्यक्ति पर 2 वर्ष के कारावास से दंडनीय छोटे संज्ञेय अपराध का आरोप था। BNSS धारा 35(7) के तहत, पुलिस अधिकारी अपर पुलिस अधीक्षक से पूर्व अनुमति के बिना उसे गिरफ्तार नहीं कर सकता था, जिसने इसके बजाय नोटिस जारी करने का निर्देश दिया।

उदाहरण 5: कोलकाता में, एक व्यक्ति को अदालत के आदेश से हिरासत से भागने के लिए घोषित अपराधी घोषित किया गया था। एक पुलिस अधिकारी ने उसे देखा और धारा 41(1)(c)/35(1)(d) के तहत बिना वारंट के गिरफ्तार कर लिया।

उदाहरण 6: पटना में एक पुलिस अधिकारी ने एक व्यक्ति को ₹2 लाख मूल्य के चोरी के गहने चोरी के उचित संदेह के साथ रखते पाया। धारा 41(1)(d)/35(1)(e) के तहत, अधिकारी ने उसे बिना वारंट के गिरफ्तार कर लिया।

उदाहरण 7: बेंगलुरु में, एक व्यक्ति को पैरोल पर जेल से रिहा किया गया था लेकिन उसने रिहाई की शर्तों का उल्लंघन किया। धारा 41(1)(h)/35(1)(i) (BNSS धारा 394 का संदर्भ देता है) के तहत, एक पुलिस अधिकारी ने नियमों के उल्लंघन के लिए उसे बिना वारंट के गिरफ्तार कर लिया।

उदाहरण 8: जयपुर में एक पुलिस अधिकारी को दूसरे पुलिस अधिकारी से एक व्यक्ति को गिरफ्तार करने की मांग मिली जिसने दूसरे जिले में संज्ञेय अपराध किया था। धारा 41(1)(i)/35(1)(j) के तहत, अधिकारी ने उस व्यक्ति को बिना वारंट के गिरफ्तार कर लिया।

उदाहरण 9: BNSS धारा 35(3)-(5) के तहत, हैदराबाद में एक पुलिस अधिकारी ने 4 वर्ष के कारावास से दंडनीय संज्ञेय अपरोपर के आरोपी व्यक्ति को पुलिस स्टेशन में पेश होने का नोटिस जारी किया। व्यक्ति ने अनुपालन किया, इसलिए उसे गिरफ्तार नहीं किया गया और नोटिस पर्याप्त था।

उदाहरण 10: अहमदाबाद में एक 70 वर्षीय महिला पर 2 वर्ष के कारावास से दंडनीय गैर-हिंसक संज्ञेय अपराध का संदेह था। BNSS धारा 35(7) के तहत, पुलिस ने अपर पुलिस अधीक्षक से अनुमति प्राप्त की, जिसने निर्देश दिया कि उसकी उम्र और बीमारी के कारण, गिरफ्तारी के बजाय केवल एक नोटिस जारी किया जाना चाहिए।

Related Sections

CrPCBNSSarrest without warrantcognizable offencepolice powersnotice of appearanceelderly protectionDeputy Superintendent of Policereasons for arrest

Disclaimer: This plain-language explanation is for educational reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified advocate and the official gazette text for legal matters.

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