BNSS Section 149: Use of armed forces to disperse assembly
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 11: MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER AND TRANQUILLITY (A.—Unlawful assemblies, B.—Public nuisances, C.—Urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger, D.—Disputes as to immovable property)
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¶149.
(1) If any assembly referred to in sub-section (1) of section 148 cannot otherwise be dispersed, and it is necessary for the public security that it should be dispersed, the District Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate authorised by him, who is present, may cause it to be dispersed by the armed forces.
¶(2) Such Magistrate may require any officer in command of any group of persons belonging to the armed forces to disperse the assembly with the help of the armed forces under his command, and to arrest and confine such persons forming part of it as the Executive Magistrate may direct, or as it may be necessary to arrest and confine in order to disperse the assembly or to have them punished according to law.
¶(3) Every such officer of the armed forces shall obey such requisition in such manner as he thinks fit, but in so doing he shall use as little force, and do as little injury to person and property, as may be consistent with dispersing the assembly and arresting and detaining such persons.
Study: explanations and related material
Replaces CrPC 130. CrPC → BNSS converterSource: BPR&D BNSS–CrPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-07-03)
Official reference: Ministry of Home Affairs: Gazette text, 25 December 2023 — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-07-01.Mobile-app reference import; the recorded snapshot date is not a fresh legal-currency guarantee. The linked government text is an independent authoritative reference, not certification that this website reproduces the same edition. The source link was checked, not every provision or subsequent amendment. Check commencement notifications, savings and jurisdiction-specific variations separately.
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 148. Dispersal of assembly by use of civil force
- 150. Power of certain armed force officers to disperse assembly
- 151. Protection against prosecution for acts done under sections 148, 149 and 150
- 152. Conditional order for removal of nuisance
- 153. Service or notification of order
- 154. Person to whom order is addressed to obey or show cause
- 155. Penalty for failure to comply with section 154
- 156. Procedure where existence of public right is denied
- 157. Procedure where person against whom order is made under section 152 appears to show cause
- 158. Power of Magistrate to direct local investigation and examination of an expert
- 159. Power of Magistrate to furnish written instructions, etc
- 160. Procedure on order being made absolute and consequences of disobedience
- 161. Injunction pending inquiry
- 162. Magistrate may prohibit repetition or continuance of public nuisance
- 163. Power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger
- 164. Procedure where dispute concerning land or water is likely to cause breach of peace
- 165. Power to attach subject of dispute and to appoint receiver
- 166. Dispute concerning right of use of land or water
- 167. Local inquiry