Section 37 BNSS 2023: Designated Police Officer
Section 37 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 requires every State Government to establish police control rooms at the district and State levels and to designate police officers responsible for maintaining and displaying specified information about arrested persons.
What is Section 37 BNSS?
Section 37 appears in Chapter V of the BNSS, which deals with arrest of persons. Its purpose is to create an institutional mechanism for maintaining and making available basic information regarding persons who have been arrested. The provision places duties on the State Government and requires designated police officers at both district and police-station levels.
Key terms under Section 37
Designated police officer: A police officer designated by the State Government in every district and in every police station for the purpose specified in Section 37(b). The officer must not be below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police.
Police control room: A control room that the State Government is required to establish in every district and at State level under Section 37(a).
Arrest information: For the purpose of Section 37(b), this includes the names and addresses of arrested persons and the nature of the offence with which they are charged.
Digital mode: Section 37 expressly permits the required arrest information to be prominently displayed in digital form, in addition to any other manner of display.
Text of Section 37 - Designated police officer
37. The State Government shall-
(a) establish a police control room in every district and at State level;
(b) designate a police officer in every district and in every police station, not below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police who shall be responsible for maintaining the information about the names and addresses of the persons arrested, nature of the offence with which charged, which shall be prominently displayed in any manner including in digital mode in every police station and at the district headquarters.
State Government must establish police control rooms
Section 37(a) requires the State Government to establish a police control room in every district and also at the State level. The language is mandatory because the provision uses the word "shall".
Who can be a designated police officer?
Under Section 37(b), the State Government must designate a police officer in every district and in every police station. The designated officer cannot be below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police.
Information that must be maintained
The designated police officer is responsible for maintaining information concerning persons who have been arrested. Section 37 specifically refers to:
- the name of the arrested person;
- the address of the arrested person; and
- the nature of the offence with which the person is charged.
Where must arrest information be displayed?
The information maintained under Section 37(b) must be prominently displayed in every police station and at the district headquarters. The statute expressly allows display "in any manner including in digital mode", enabling States and police authorities to use electronic or digital systems for this purpose.
Why Section 37 is important
Section 37 supports transparency in the arrest process by requiring identifiable officers to maintain basic arrest information and by requiring that information to be prominently displayed. It should be read together with the other safeguards governing arrest under Chapter V of the BNSS.
Related BNSS arrest provisions
Section 37 operates alongside Section 35 BNSS, which governs when police may arrest without warrant; Section 36 BNSS, which prescribes the procedure of arrest and duties of the arresting officer; Section 38 BNSS, which deals with the arrested person's right to meet an advocate during interrogation; and Section 39 BNSS, concerning arrest on refusal to give name and residence.
Section 37 BNSS at a glance
- Every State Government must establish a police control room in every district.
- A police control room must also exist at State level.
- A designated police officer is required in every district and every police station.
- The officer must be at least of the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police.
- The officer must maintain names and addresses of arrested persons and the nature of the offence charged.
- The information must be prominently displayed at police stations and district headquarters.
- The information may be displayed in digital mode.
Official legal resources
This page is intended as a general legal information resource. State-specific notifications, police standing orders, court directions, and other applicable provisions should also be checked where relevant.