CrPC 174 to BNSS 194: Police to enquire and report on suicide, etc
Section 174 CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 194 BNSS (2023)
CrPC 174 to BNSS 194 at a Glance
Section 174 CrPC (Police to enquire and report on suicide, etc) is now Section 194 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.
What Changed From CrPC 174 to BNSS 194?
Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is renumbered as Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 as a change of form. The primary substantive change is in Section 194(2) BNSS, which replaces the requirement in Section 174(2) CrPC to forward the signed inquest report forthwith to the District Magistrate or Sub-divisional Magistrate with a specific deadline of within twenty-four hours. In changes of form, Section 194(1) BNSS replaces rule prescribed with rule made by the State Government, and Section 194(3) BNSS replaces qualified medical man with qualified medical person. The remaining inquest rules and Section 194(4) BNSS are unchanged.
CrPC 174 vs BNSS 194: Comparison Table
| Aspect | CrPC 1973 (repealed) | BNSS 2023 (in force) |
|---|---|---|
| Section | 174 | 194 |
| Heading | Police to enquire and report on suicide, etc | Same |
| Sub-sections | 4 sub-sections | Same |
CrPC 174 and BNSS 194: Bare Act Text Side by Side
CrPC 1973 (repealed)
Section 174, CrPC 1973
174. Police to enquire and report on suicide, etc.—(1) When the officer in charge of a police station or some other police officer specially empowered by the State Government in that behalf receives information that a person has committed suicide, or has been killed by another or by an animal or by machinery or by an accident, or has died under circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person has committed an offence, he shall immediately give intimation thereof to the nearest Executive Magistrate empowered to hold inquests, and, unless otherwise directed by any rule prescribed by the State Government, or by any general or special order of the District or Sub-divisional Magistrate, shall proceed to the place where the body of such deceased person is, and there, in the presence of two or more respectable inhabitants of the neighbourhood, shall make an investigation, and draw up a report of the apparent cause of death, describing such wounds, fractures, bruises, and other marks of injury as may be found on the body, and stating in what manner, or by what weapon or instrument (if any); such marks appear to have been inflicted.
(2) The report shall be signed by such police officer and other persons, or by so many of them as concur therein, and shall be forthwith forwarded to the District Magistrate or the Sub-divisional Magistrate.
(3) When—
(i) the case involves suicide by a woman within seven years of her marriage; or
(ii) the case relates to the death of a woman within seven years of her marriage in any circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person committed an offence in relation to such woman; or
(iii) the case relates to the death of a woman within seven years of her marriage and any relative of the woman has made a request in this behalf; or
(iv) there is any doubt regarding the cause of death; or
(v) the police officer for any other reason considers it expedient so to do, he shall, subject to such rules as the State Government may prescribe in this behalf, forward the body, with a view to its being examined, to the nearest Civil Surgeon, or other qualified medical man appointed in this behalf by the State Government, if the state of the weather and the distance admit of its being so forwarded without risk of such putrefaction on the road as would render such examination useless.
(4) The following Magistrates are empowered to hold inquests, namely, any District Magistrate or Sub-divisional Magistrate and any other Executive Magistrate specially empowered in this behalf by the State Government or the District Magistrate.
BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section 194, BNSS 2023
194. Police to enquire and report on suicide, etc.—(1) When the officer in charge of a police station or some other police officer specially empowered by the State Government in that behalf receives information that a person has committed suicide, or has been killed by another or by an animal or by machinery or by an accident, or has died under circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person has committed an offence, he shall immediately give intimation thereof to the nearest Executive Magistrate empowered to hold inquests, and, unless otherwise directed by any rule made by the State Government, or by any general or special order of the District or Sub-divisional Magistrate, shall proceed to the place where the body of such deceased person is, and there, in the presence of two or more respectable inhabitants of the neighbourhood, shall make an investigation, and draw up a report of the apparent cause of death, describing such wounds, fractures, bruises, and other marks of injury as may be found on the body, and stating in what manner, or by what weapon or instrument (if any), such marks appear to have been inflicted.
(2) The report shall be signed by such police officer and other persons, or by so many of them as concur therein, and shall be forwarded to the District Magistrate or the Sub-divisional Magistrate within twenty-four hours.
(3) When—
(i) the case involves suicide by a woman within seven years of her marriage; or
(ii) the case relates to the death of a woman within seven years of her marriage in any circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person committed an offence in relation to such woman; or
(iii) the case relates to the death of a woman within seven years of her marriage and any relative of the woman has made a request in this behalf; or
(iv) there is any doubt regarding the cause of death; or
(v) the police officer for any other reason considers it expedient so to do, he shall, subject to such rules as the State Government may prescribe in this behalf, forward the body, with a view to its being examined, to the nearest Civil Surgeon, or other qualified medical person appointed in this behalf by the State Government, if the state of the weather and the distance admit of its being so forwarded without risk of such putrefaction on the road as would render such examination useless.
(4) The following Magistrates are empowered to hold inquests, namely, any District Magistrate or Sub-divisional Magistrate and any other Executive Magistrate specially empowered in this behalf by the State Government or the District Magistrate.
When It Applies: CrPC 174 vs BNSS 194
Under CrPC 174
- Under Section 174(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the officer in charge of a police station or another specially empowered police officer shall act upon receiving information of a suicide, a killing by another person, an animal, machinery, or an accident, or a death under circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person has committed an offence.
- Unless a State Government rule or a general or special order from the District or Sub-divisional Magistrate directs otherwise, the officer shall go to the body, investigate in the presence of two or more respectable local residents, and prepare a report on the apparent cause of death detailing any injury marks and the weapon or instrument that appears to have caused them.
- Under Section 174(2) CrPC, the inquest report shall be signed by the investigating police officer and by the witnessing persons who agree with it, and then sent to the District Magistrate or the Sub-divisional Magistrate.
- Subject to State Government rules and provided weather and distance allow transport without risk of putrefaction rendering examination useless, the officer under Section 174(3) CrPC shall send the body to the nearest Civil Surgeon or another State-appointed qualified medical man when a woman dies within seven years of her marriage by suicide, in circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person committed an offence in relation to her, or where any relative of the woman has made a request, or whenever the cause of death is in doubt or the officer considers it expedient.
- Section 174(4) CrPC empowers any District Magistrate, any Sub-divisional Magistrate, and any other Executive Magistrate specially authorised by the State Government or the District Magistrate to hold inquests.
Under BNSS 194
- Under Section 194(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the officer in charge of a police station or another specially empowered police officer shall act upon receiving information of a suicide, a killing by another person, an animal, machinery, or an accident, or a death under circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person has committed an offence.
- Unless a rule made by the State Government or a general or special order of the District or Sub-divisional Magistrate directs otherwise, the officer shall go to the body, investigate in the presence of two or more respectable local residents, and prepare a report on the apparent cause of death describing any injury marks and the weapon or instrument that appears to have inflicted them.
- Under Section 194(2) BNSS, the inquest report shall be signed by the investigating police officer and by the witnessing persons who agree with its contents before it is forwarded to the District Magistrate or the Sub-divisional Magistrate.
- Subject to State Government rules and provided weather and distance allow transport without risk of putrefaction rendering examination useless, the officer under Section 194(3) BNSS shall send the body to the nearest Civil Surgeon or another State-appointed qualified medical person when a woman dies within seven years of her marriage by suicide, in circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person committed an offence in relation to her, or where any relative of the woman has made a request, or whenever the cause of death is in doubt or the officer considers it expedient.
- Section 194(4) BNSS empowers any District Magistrate, any Sub-divisional Magistrate, and any other Executive Magistrate specially authorised by the State Government or the District Magistrate to hold inquests.
Time Limits: CrPC 174 to BNSS 194
Under CrPC 174
- Under Section 174(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the police officer shall immediately notify the nearest Executive Magistrate empowered to hold inquests upon receiving information of the death.Act text: “he shall immediately give intimation thereof to the nearest Executive Magistrate empowered to hold inquests”
- Under Section 174(2) CrPC, the signed inquest report shall be forwarded forthwith to the District Magistrate or the Sub-divisional Magistrate.Act text: “and shall be forthwith forwarded to the District Magistrate or the Sub-divisional Magistrate”
- Section 174(3) CrPC uses a period of seven years from the woman's marriage: where she dies within that period by suicide, or in circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person committed an offence in relation to her, or where any relative of hers has made a request, the police officer shall forward the body for medical examination.Act text: “the case involves suicide by a woman within seven years of her marriage”
Under BNSS 194
- Under Section 194(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the police officer shall immediately notify the nearest Executive Magistrate empowered to hold inquests upon receiving information of the death.Act text: “he shall immediately give intimation thereof to the nearest Executive Magistrate empowered to hold inquests”
- Under Section 194(2) BNSS, the signed inquest report shall be forwarded to the District Magistrate or the Sub-divisional Magistrate within twenty-four hours.Act text: “shall be forwarded to the District Magistrate or the Sub-divisional Magistrate within twenty-four hours”
- Section 194(3) BNSS uses a period of seven years from the woman's marriage: where she dies within that period by suicide, or in circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person committed an offence in relation to her, or where any relative of hers has made a request, the police officer shall forward the body for medical examination.Act text: “the case involves suicide by a woman within seven years of her marriage”
What CrPC 174 to BNSS 194 Means in Practice
From 1 July 2024, police officers conducting an inquest under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 have a fixed statutory deadline of within twenty-four hours under Section 194(2) BNSS to forward the signed inquest report to the District Magistrate or Sub-divisional Magistrate, replacing the unquantified forthwith standard in Section 174(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. All other inquest duties, including immediate intimation to the empowered Executive Magistrate and forwarding the body for medical examination, remain unchanged.
FAQs: CrPC 174 to BNSS 194
What is the main difference between Section 174 CrPC and Section 194 BNSS?▼
The main difference is the time limit for sending the signed police inquest report to the District Magistrate or the Sub-divisional Magistrate. Section 174(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 required the signed report to be forwarded forthwith, whereas Section 194(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 requires the signed report to be forwarded within twenty-four hours. The duty under Section 194(1) BNSS to give immediate initial intimation of the death to the nearest empowered Executive Magistrate remains unchanged.
Did the rules for forwarding the body of a woman for medical examination change in Section 194(3) BNSS?▼
No substantive condition changed. Both Section 174(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Section 194(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 require forwarding the body for examination when a woman dies within seven years of her marriage by suicide, under circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion of an offence in relation to her, or on a request by her relative. Section 194(3) BNSS only replaces qualified medical man with qualified medical person.
Did Section 194 BNSS alter which Magistrates are empowered to hold inquests?▼
No. Section 194(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 is identical word for word to Section 174(4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Under both provisions, the Magistrates empowered to hold inquests are any District Magistrate, any Sub-divisional Magistrate, and any other Executive Magistrate specially empowered in that behalf by the State Government or the District Magistrate. The renumbering from Section 174(4) CrPC to Section 194(4) BNSS is a change of form.
Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only. The new criminal laws came into effect on 1 July 2024. Consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.
Sources: Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 22 Oct 2026 ·