BNSS Section 51: Examination of accused by medical practitioner at request of police officer
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 5: Arrest of Persons
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51.
(1) When a person is arrested on a charge of committing an offence of such a nature and alleged to have been committed under such circumstances that there are reasonable grounds for believing that an examination of his person will afford evidence as to the commission of an offence, it shall be lawful for a registered medical practitioner, acting at the request of any police officer, and for any person acting in good faith in his aid and under his direction, to make such an examination of the person arrested as is reasonably necessary in order to ascertain the facts which may afford such evidence, and to use such force as is reasonably necessary for that purpose.
(2) Whenever the person of a female is to be examined under this section, the examination shall be made only by, or under the supervision of, a female registered medical practitioner.
(3) The registered medical practitioner shall, without any delay, forward the examination report to the investigating officer.
Explanation.—In this section and sections 52 and 53,—
(a) "examination" shall include the examination of blood, blood stains, semen, swabs in case of sexual offences, sputum and sweat, hair samples and finger nail clippings by the use of modern and scientific techniques including DNA profiling and such other tests which the registered medical practitioner thinks necessary in a particular case;
(b) "registered medical practitioner" means a medical practitioner who possesses any medical qualification recognised under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 and whose name has been entered in the National Medical Register or a State Medical Register under that Act.
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
- 35. When police may arrest without warrant
- 36. Procedure of arrest and duties of officer making arrest
- 37. Designated police officer
- 38. Right of arrested person to meet an advocate of his choice during interrogation
- 39. Arrest on refusal to give name and residence
- 40. Arrest by private person and procedure on such arrest
- 41. Arrest by Magistrate
- 42. Protection of members of Armed Forces from arrest
- 43. Arrest how made
- 44. Search of place entered by person sought to be arrested
- 45. Pursuit of offenders into other jurisdictions
- 46. No unnecessary restraint
- 47. Person arrested to be informed of grounds of arrest and of right to bail
- 48. Obligation of person making arrest to inform about arrest, etc., to relative or friend
- 49. Search of arrested person
- 50. Power to seize offensive weapons
- 52. Examination of person accused of rape by medical practitioner
- 53. Examination of arrested person by medical officer
- 54. Identification of person arrested
- 55. Procedure when police officer deputes subordinate to arrest without warrant
- 56. Health and safety of arrested person
- 57. Person arrested to be taken before Magistrate or officer in charge of police station
- 58. Person arrested not to be detained more than twenty-four hours
- 59. Police to report apprehensions
- 60. Discharge of person apprehended
- 61. Power, on escape, to pursue and retake
- 62. Arrest to be made strictly according to Sanhita