CrPC Section 129: Dispersal of assembly by use of civil force
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Chapter 10: Maintenance of public order and traquillity
Repealed on 1 July 2024 and replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).
¶ 129. Dispersal of assembly by use of civil force.- (1) Any Executive Magistrate or office in charge of a police station or, in the absence of such officer in charge, any police officer, not below the rank of a sub-inspector, may command any unlawful assembly, or any assembly of five or more persons likely to cause a disturbance of the public peace, to disperse; and it shall thereupon be the duty of the members of such assembly to disperse accordingly.
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(2) If, upon being so commanded, any such assembly does not disperse, or if, without being so commanded, it conducts itself in such a manner as to show a determination, not to disperse, any Executive Magistrate or police officer referred to in sub-section (1), may proceed to disperse such assembly by force, and may require the assistance of any make person, not being an officer or member of the armed forces and acting as such, for the purpose of dispersing such assembly, and, if necessary, arresting and confining the persons who form part of it, in order to disperse such assembly or that they may be punished according to law.
Study: explanations and related material
Now BNSS 148 (corresponding section). CrPC → BNSS converterSource: BPR&D BNSS–CrPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-07-03), p8
Official reference: Ministry of Home Affairs: historical CrPC reference — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-06-30.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. Section 135 was restored and individually checked against the linked government PDF (pages 75–76) on 2026-10-02; this is not a verification of the whole collection. Schedules and forms are not consolidated here. Historical code retained for reference; read the repeal/savings provisions in the successor code.
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 130. Use of armed forces to disperse assembly
- 131. Power of certain armed force officers to disperse assembly
- 132. Protection against prosecution for acts done under preceding sections
- 133. Conditional order for removal of nuisance
- 134. Service or notification of order
- 135. Person to whom addressed to obey or show cause
- 136. Consequences of his failing to do so
- 137. Procedure where existence of public right is denied
- 138. Procedure where he appears to show cause
- 139. Power of Magistrate to furnish written instructions, etc
- 140. Power of the appropriate Government to make rules
- 141. Procedure on order being made absolute and consequences of disobedience
- 142. Injunction pending inquiry
- 143. Magistrate may prohibit repetition or continuance of public nuisance
- 144. Power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger
- 144A. Power to prohibit carrying arms in procession or mass drill or mass training with arms
- 145. Procedure where dispute concerning land or water is likely to cause breach of peace
- 146. Power to attach subject of dispute and to appoint receiver
- 147. Dispute concerning right of use of land or water
- 148. Local inquiry