C.—Urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger
BNSS Section 163: Power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger
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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163. C.—Urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger
(1) In cases where, in the opinion of a District Magistrate, a Sub-divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate specially empowered by the State Government in this behalf, there is sufficient ground for proceeding under this section and immediate prevention or speedy remedy is desirable, such Magistrate may, by a written order stating the material facts of the case and served in the manner provided by section 153, direct any person to abstain from a certain act or to take certain order with respect to certain property in his possession or under his management, if such Magistrate considers that such direction is likely to prevent, or tends to prevent, obstruction, annoyance or injury to any person lawfully employed, or danger to human life, health or safety or a disturbance of the public tranquillity, or a riot, or an affray.
(2) An order under this section may, in cases of emergency or in cases where the circumstances do not admit of the serving in due time of a notice upon the person against whom the order is directed, be passed ex parte.
(3) An order under this section may be directed to a particular individual, or to persons residing in a particular place or area, or to the public generally when frequenting or visiting a particular place or area.
(4) No order under this section shall remain in force for more than two months from the making thereof:
Provided that if the State Government considers it necessary so to do for preventing danger to human life, health or safety or for preventing a riot or any affray, it may, by notification, direct that an order made by a Magistrate under this section shall remain in force for such further period not exceeding six months from the date on which the order made by the Magistrate would have, but for such order, expired, as it may specify in the said notification.
(5) Any Magistrate may, either on his own motion or on the application of any person aggrieved, rescind or alter any order made under this section by himself or any Magistrate subordinate to him or by his predecessor-in-office.
(6) The State Government may, either on its own motion or on the application of any person aggrieved, rescind or alter any order made by it under the proviso to sub-section (4).
(7) Where an application under sub-section (5) or sub-section (6) is received, the Magistrate, or the State Government, as the case may be, shall afford to the applicant an early opportunity of appearing before him or it, either in person or by an advocate and showing cause against the order; and if the Magistrate or the State Government, as the case may be, rejects the application wholly or in part, he or it shall record in writing the reasons for so doing.
Bare act text for reference, current to 1 July 2024. It is not legal advice; check the official gazette for authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 148. Dispersal of assembly by use of civil force
- 149. Use of armed forces to disperse assembly
- 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
- 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